What's the actual state of drug testing in the UFC right now?

[don't ask]

When they announced they were dropping USADA for this new operation and USADA claimed it was because they wouldn't ignore Conor's violations, most people assumed that the UFC was setting themselves up to be as shady as possible with no accountability.

Does anyone know how the new company is doing? Do we have any reason to believe that they're testing and upholding the standards, rules and regulations in a trustworthy manner? Has anyone seen any news sources talking about this?

(Also, is it true that knockouts have decreased since they brought in the new gloves? I've seen people claiming this and we must have had enough fights since the new gloves were introduced to extract meaningful data to examine.)

EDIT: From what I've turned up Harris, Hill and Askhabov were suspended since CSAD replaced USADA, but Hill was a self-reported violation and Harris was actually caught by USADA with CSAD merely implementing the punishment. I don't know if Askhabov was caught by CSAD, but since he was suspended at the same time Harris was, I suspect he was also caught by USADA.

UFC News: Fighter Hit With 4-Year Suspension From New UFC Anti-Doping Partner

The first suspension of the post-USADA era of drug testing in the UFC will keep this heavyweight out of action for four years.

www.si.com

Khalil Rountree Jr. suspended 2 months for doping violation, could face additional penalty in Nevada

Khalil Rountree has to sit out until July due to a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, which prevents him from fighting Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 and he also faces a potential punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as well.

www.mmafighting.com

Khusein Askhabov Suspended for Two Years Due To Failed Drug Test

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Khusein Askhabov (23-1) has been suspended for two years due to anti-doping violations.

www.sherdog.com

 

[tomjones]

When they announced they were dropping USADA for this new operation and USADA claimed it was because they wouldn't ignore Conor's violations, most people assumed that the UFC was setting themselves up to be as shady as possible with no accountability.

Does anyone know how the new company is doing? Do we have any reason to believe that they're testing and upholding the standards, rules and regulations in a trustworthy manner? Has anyone seen any news sources talking about this?

(Also, is it true that knockouts have decreased since they brought in the new gloves? I've seen people claiming this and we must have had enough fights since the new gloves were introduced to extract meaningful data to examine.)

I didn't know they changed the gloves. Maybe the reduction in knockouts is just a coincidence.

 

[Khaosan]

If Jon Jones is on the card you can safely assume it’s non-existent.

 

[Daniel Henry]

Alex has no problem knocking people out with the gloves...

 

[Neck&Neck]

No smell, no tell

 

[Istryker]

It's "mysterious"

 

[Luthien]

 

[Clark Rogers]

When they announced they were dropping USADA for this new operation and USADA claimed it was because they wouldn't ignore Conor's violations, most people assumed that the UFC was setting themselves up to be as shady as possible with no accountability.

Does anyone know how the new company is doing? Do we have any reason to believe that they're testing and upholding the standards, rules and regulations in a trustworthy manner? Has anyone seen any news sources talking about this?

(Also, is it true that knockouts have decreased since they brought in the new gloves? I've seen people claiming this and we must have had enough fights since the new gloves were introduced to extract meaningful data to examine.)

They've already issued a few suspensions.

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Good question!
Sadly we can not even amass half the braincells needed to answer it.
Still a good question!

 

[Ozze]

From what I understand they just changed USADA to DFSI (Drug Free Sport International) which they claim is the leader in this, with clientes such as FIFA and MBL. But I don't think it changed anything in their policy, just the agency taking the tests is a new one.

About the gloves I remember someone made a thread about this a while ago. The KO rate was a little smaller in the new gloves but not something really odd. Specially because of the small sample of fights on the new glove.

Edit: Interesting stat just for fun. The percentage of (t)KOs in MMA overall is increasing, which you think would be decreasing with the addition of smaller classes and WMMA, who have less power. But the percentage of submissions is decreasing year by year, probably because fighters are now much more well rounded and able to defend against it.

 

[don't ask]

They've already issued a few suspensions.

Do you know the names? From what I've turned up Harris, Hill and Askhabov were suspended, but Hill was a self-reported violation and Harris was actually caught by USADA with CSAD merely implementing the punishment. I don't know if Askhabov was caught by CSAD, but since he was suspended at the same time Harris was, I suspect he was also caught by USADA.

UFC News: Fighter Hit With 4-Year Suspension From New UFC Anti-Doping Partner

The first suspension of the post-USADA era of drug testing in the UFC will keep this heavyweight out of action for four years.

www.si.com

Khalil Rountree Jr. suspended 2 months for doping violation, could face additional penalty in Nevada

Khalil Rountree has to sit out until July due to a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, which prevents him from fighting Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 and he also faces a potential punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as well.

www.mmafighting.com

Khusein Askhabov Suspended for Two Years Due To Failed Drug Test

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Khusein Askhabov (23-1) has been suspended for two years due to anti-doping violations.

www.sherdog.com

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Do you know the names? From what I've turned up Harris, Hill and Askhabov were suspended, but Hill was a self-reported violation and Harris was actually caught by USADA with CSAD merely implementing the punishment. I don't know if Askhabov was caught by CSAD, but since he was suspended at the same time Harris was, I suspect he was also caught by USADA.

UFC News: Fighter Hit With 4-Year Suspension From New UFC Anti-Doping Partner

The first suspension of the post-USADA era of drug testing in the UFC will keep this heavyweight out of action for four years.

www.si.com

Khalil Rountree Jr. suspended 2 months for doping violation, could face additional penalty in Nevada

Khalil Rountree has to sit out until July due to a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, which prevents him from fighting Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 and he also faces a potential punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as well.

www.mmafighting.com

Khusein Askhabov Suspended for Two Years Due To Failed Drug Test

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Khusein Askhabov (23-1) has been suspended for two years due to anti-doping violations.

www.sherdog.com

How long are the suspensions?
Usually they are about as long as a broken fist needs to heal.
When it comes to drugs I actually think our fighters should get every care possible be it peds or not.
Doctors should control it.

 

[Guy LeDouche]

What drug testing?

 

[don't ask]

How long are the suspensions?
Usually they are about as long as a broken fist needs to heal.

Now this is something I'm going to be paying attention to in the future.

 

[AmonTobin]

Drug Free Sport International sent the brave man & woman tester to Jon Jones' house in March. Jones had a temper tantrum, took the woman's phone and threatened their lives allegedly. So they must be doing something right. Lol

If I understand this correctly, DFSI is the labs/ feet on the ground partner for specimen collecting and processing.
https://www.drugfreesport.com/about-us/
CSAD is the UFC’s own internal governing and investigative body.
https://ufcantidoping.com/

 

[don't ask]

Drug Free Sport International sent the brave man & woman tester to Jon Jones' house in March. Jones had a temper tantrum, took the woman's phone and threatened their lives allegedly. So they must be doing something right. Lol
Interestingly, the fight date keeps getting pushed back for.. reasons, and we still don't have an official fight date announcement. I'm thinking Jones preferred USADA.

Paranoia is a symptom of drug use. They could have walked in and said, "Okay, just go through the motions so it looks good and we'll be out of your hair. Nothing to worry about." and then Jones could have said, "YOU WON'T TAKE ME ALIVE, BITCH!"

 

[nostradumbass]

 

[Clark Rogers]

Do you know the names? From what I've turned up Harris, Hill and Askhabov were suspended, but Hill was a self-reported violation and Harris was actually caught by USADA with CSAD merely implementing the punishment. I don't know if Askhabov was caught by CSAD, but since he was suspended at the same time Harris was, I suspect he was also caught by USADA.

UFC News: Fighter Hit With 4-Year Suspension From New UFC Anti-Doping Partner

The first suspension of the post-USADA era of drug testing in the UFC will keep this heavyweight out of action for four years.

www.si.com

Khalil Rountree Jr. suspended 2 months for doping violation, could face additional penalty in Nevada

Khalil Rountree has to sit out until July due to a violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy, which prevents him from fighting Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 and he also faces a potential punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as well.

www.mmafighting.com

Khusein Askhabov Suspended for Two Years Due To Failed Drug Test

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Khusein Askhabov (23-1) has been suspended for two years due to anti-doping violations.

www.sherdog.com

This one failed on 4/11/24, and was suspended

UFC suspends Bruno Silva six months for 'likely unintentional' anti-doping violation

UFC middleweight Bruno Silva was flagged for a failed drug test – but the promotion’s anti-doping wing says it’s unlikely intentional use.

mmajunkie.usatoday.com

There's been at least one who CSAD suspended because USADA had failed to report the violation, which meant the fighter got to fight in between. Think the name was Irina Alekseeva.

Here's another popped in June and has had a punishment handed down...

Statement On Joilton Lutterbach

www.ufc.com

Not an exhaustive list by any means, but it's pretty apparent they are actively doing things, and even fixing some USADA failures.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Looks like they're carrying on the USADA tradition of nabbing low-level offenders while the top/rich fighters can do whatever they want.

 

[David Street]

When it was USADA most complained they were on the take, then when they got rid of them ... then they complained now UFC will fake the tests and decide who passes, but truth is I am hearing less complaining these days about testing being real.