Drug Testing in MMA: Who is really at fault?

[FORXREAL]

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately in regards to drug testing in MMA. I have been thinking about the effect it has had, the fans reaction to it, the introduction of USADA, and what really determines a fighter is "doping". It's a sensitive subject that is often judged based on an emotional reaction among fans, media, and sometimes even the promotion. But what I really want to focus on is the perception of who is "cheating" and who is not in the people's eyes.

My experience with MMA starts back in 2009. I watched a small portion of the Penn VS Florian PPV, and was intrigued. Although, I wouldn't officially start watching it consistently till 2010. I began watched old episodes of UFC Unleashed on spike and was "hooked" after watching the Jardine VS Alexander fight. I looked at the sport purely and fascinated. I watched every PPV starting with UFC 111. Fast forward to UFC 117 Silva VS Sonnen. As a fan I was rooting for the underdog Sonnen, and he came damn near close to reaching a massive upset, but ultimately failed. Even worse was my first experience with a failed drug test watching MMA, with Sonnen testing positive for ridiculous amounts of testosterone.

My instant reaction was disappointment, but as a fan I wanted to believe that he was innocent and there was some mistake. But that's my point. Even when a fighter tests positive the court of public opinion weighs more heavy than the actual athletic commissions that hand out these tests. Now of course Sonnen would later test positive multiple times, but today is a respected member of the MMA community. But there are those fighters who would test positive only one period of time, and be labeled as career long "cheaters".

The introduction of USADA only made things more complicated. You had fighters "Pulsing", getting "tainted supplements", testing for things that shouldn't have been tested for, and many other layers to the discussion that made it less black and white. Drug testing in MMA culture to me comes off as more of a grey area than anything.

My question to anyone out there is what determines a fighter being a "cheat" with a failed drug test?

 

[Fahcough]

The whistle blower is at fault. Creatures were tamed.

 

[randomg1t]

My question to anyone out there is what determines a fighter being a "cheat" with a failed drug test?

the fact that they failed a drug test.

we start off assuming they're all clean. one of them gets popped for something, we stop assuming they're clean. they become a cheat.

it's not a very complicated concept. in order to be considered a clean athlete, you need to pass every single drug test. if you don't, we get to label you a cheating bastard.

 

[FORXREAL]

the fact that they failed a drug test.

we start off assuming they're all clean. one of them gets popped for something, we stop assuming they're clean. they become a cheat.

it's not a very complicated concept. in order to be considered a clean athlete, you need to pass every single drug test. if you don't, we get to label you a cheating bastard.

That's a pretty black/white accurate way of looking at it. Realistically it should be that simple, but let's not pretend it is that simple in a majority of peoples minds. When I think of "cheats" I can name a hand full of fighters who tested positive, but other people might have a differing opinion because of "tainted supplements" or "legacy" or any other number of opinions. I'm not saying if you failed that you may have not failed. Obviously if you fail a test than you fail a test.

 

[randomg1t]

That's a pretty black/white accurate way of looking at it. Realistically it should be that simple, but let's not pretend it is that simple in a majority of peoples minds. When I think of "cheats" I can name a hand full of fighters who tested positive, but other people might have a differing opinion because of "tainted supplements" or "legacy" or any other number of opinions. I'm not saying if you failed that you may have not failed. Obviously if you fail a test than you fail a test.

there is no nuance here, other than one that fans want to create in order to preserve their favorite fighter's image.

tainted supplements, tainted meat, pinch of salt in olympic swimming pool, dick pills, pulsing... those are all excuses. it's bullshit, all of it. the only reason people parrot that horseshit is because they're fans of the guy that got caught.

getting caught with PEDs in your system means you're a PED cheat. that's all there is to it.

 

[Killroy]

I know it gets used as an excuse a lot but there is such a thing as a tainted supplement.

 

[froggyluv]

there is no nuance here, other than one that fans want to create in order to preserve their favorite fighter's image.

tainted supplements, tainted meat, pinch of salt in olympic swimming pool, dick pills, pulsing... those are all excuses. it's bullshit, all of it. the only reason people parrot that horseshit is because they're fans of the guy that got caught.

getting caught with PEDs in your system means you're a PED cheat. that's all there is to it.

So if a cyclist fan knew that Lance was cheating yet because he never popped -that fan would have no say? GTFO

 

[DagOban**]

So if a cyclist fan knew that Lance was cheating yet because he never popped -that fan would have no say? GTFO

Yes.

"Knowing" doesn't mean anything. A professional has to test positive through an official regulatory body.

Gossip means jack shit.

 

[Krixes]

Yes.

"Knowing" doesn't mean anything. A professional has to test positive through an official regulatory body.

Gossip means jack shit.

 

[kflo]

I know it gets used as an excuse a lot but there is such a thing as a tainted supplement.

but that does fuck up the black/white thing........

can't we just make everything black and white (no pun)?

 

[Benoitthegr8]

I’ve honestly come to the realization that their likely all enhanced, the difference between winning and losing is decided by the narrowest of margarines. The amount of money, fame, fortune, ect...on the line will drive the most honest and pure hearted of competitors to step out of the black/white and into the grey area. The ones who regularly test clean are the most disciplined, the ones who get popped are not. The underground labs always have a leg up on the test by knowing what’s coming regardless of when USADA shows up on the doorstep. Add in a little wiggle room for missed tests and USADA is little more than a window dressing for the UFC to claim they have enhanced testing.

 

[kflo]

the greater "fault" is other sports not having the same standards as the ufc. it makes the ufc look worse in comparison, because the other sports are lax and less transparent. the idea that the nfl or the nba or nhl wouldn't have similar or worse issues under the same standards is laughable.

 

[TheChance]

There are no clean athletes in any major sport, the reason we have testing in the UFC is because people still believe in the myth of clean athletes.

 

[jx820]

the fact that they failed a drug test.

we start off assuming they're all clean. one of them gets popped for something, we stop assuming they're clean. they become a cheat.

it's not a very complicated concept. in order to be considered a clean athlete, you need to pass every single drug test. if you don't, we get to label you a cheating bastard.

That's not how the fans treat it though. Yoel, Werdum, and Machida are not dragged through the mud by fans the way Dillashaw, Anderson, and Jones are.

We also as a collective fan base don't care about all cheating equally. Cheat the scale? You're fine. Eye poke and groin strike every opponent every fight? Fine (unless you're Jones). Grease up? Fine. Dope... that's cheating.

 

[froggyluv]

Yes.

"Knowing" doesn't mean anything. A professional has to test positive through an official regulatory body.

Gossip means jack shit.

So no one can criticize OJ Simpson as he was proven Not Guilty. Again obvious is obvious -only fuqqin sheep follow such simplistic blather

 

[Shaddows]

The main issue (as we came to find out) is that there are tainted supplements, there are food (i.e. Kangaroo meat) and even (recently) a female fighter got caught because she had sex the night prior to the fight (they did not say how it contributed o her failed testing, but USADA confirmed that was the case)....


So there's a huge gray area here.

IMHO the UFC and USADA failed to provide substances that they tested and vetted clear to use.
By doing that, and allowing fighters to only use those substances, they prevent them from using tainted ones from obscure labs.
That could help solve those incidental substances.

But whoever wants to knowingly cheat (i.e. Sonnen, TJ)... they will continue gaining this unfair advantage until caught.

 

[Masturbin]

The only guys that care about that are salty gsp fans calling this guy the clean goat

 

[Pizza Werewolf]

UFC isnt even really trying to determine who is the actual best fighter, so I honestly dont understand why they care if they dope, they should let them do whatever in reasonable amounts.

 

[Fioretti]

the fact that they failed a drug test.

we start off assuming they're all clean. one of them gets popped for something, we stop assuming they're clean. they become a cheat.

it's not a very complicated concept. in order to be considered a clean athlete, you need to pass every single drug test. if you don't, we get to label you a cheating bastard.

Passing a drug test doesn't make you clean. In fact, fighters who can game the system and pass all tests while still taking PEDs are even more of a "cheater" than those who have failed a test. They're cheating by taking PEDs, then cheating again by passing the tests.

Fighters that haven't been caught are just better cheaters.

 

[blaseblah]

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately in regards to drug testing in MMA. I have been thinking about the effect it has had, the fans reaction to it, the introduction of USADA, and what really determines a fighter is "doping". It's a sensitive subject that is often judged based on an emotional reaction among fans, media, and sometimes even the promotion. But what I really want to focus on is the perception of who is "cheating" and who is not in the people's eyes.

My experience with MMA starts back in 2009. I watched a small portion of the Penn VS Florian PPV, and was intrigued. Although, I wouldn't officially start watching it consistently till 2010. I began watched old episodes of UFC Unleashed on spike and was "hooked" after watching the Jardine VS Alexander fight. I looked at the sport purely and fascinated. I watched every PPV starting with UFC 111. Fast forward to UFC 117 Silva VS Sonnen. As a fan I was rooting for the underdog Sonnen, and he came damn near close to reaching a massive upset, but ultimately failed. Even worse was my first experience with a failed drug test watching MMA, with Sonnen testing positive for ridiculous amounts of testosterone.

My instant reaction was disappointment, but as a fan I wanted to believe that he was innocent and there was some mistake. But that's my point. Even when a fighter tests positive the court of public opinion weighs more heavy than the actual athletic commissions that hand out these tests. Now of course Sonnen would later test positive multiple times, but today is a respected member of the MMA community. But there are those fighters who would test positive only one period of time, and be labeled as career long "cheaters".

The introduction of USADA only made things more complicated. You had fighters "Pulsing", getting "tainted supplements", testing for things that shouldn't have been tested for, and many other layers to the discussion that made it less black and white. Drug testing in MMA culture to me comes off as more of a grey area than anything.

My question to anyone out there is what determines a fighter being a "cheat" with a failed drug test?

Jones has popped 3 times not once. He has also popped for cocaine, committed multiple crimes and is a habitual liar. There is no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt.