As we ring in the new year that is 2024, the UFC has released details on its new drug testing system.
After working together since 2015, the UFC and USADA had a nasty split earlier this year. USADA CEO Travis Tygart issued a statement revealing the UFC has decided to part ways with the anti-doping agency. Tygart claimed things went south in the relationship when Conor McGregor did not get preferential treatment in terms of his eligibility to return the testing pool. While UFC threatened legal action, Tygart stood firm on his initial statement.
Nevertheless, the UFC will be working with Drug Free Sport International for sample collection. George Piro, a former FBI agent, will be tasked with overseeing the UFC’s new program, and the buck stops with him when it comes to sanctioning decisions.
Details On New UFC Drug Testing System In 2024
In the UFC’s recent press release touting its new anti-doping team for 2024, the promotion announced DFSI will be the lone sample collector working with the UFC.
“Beginning on December 31, UFC athletes will be subject to no-notice sample collections by UFC’s new biological sample collection and shipping agency, Drug Free Sport International (DFSI), or one of its contracted affiliates. DFSI a global leader in the anti-doping industry and currently collects biological samples for professional and amateur athletic organizations, including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, FIFA, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, NCAA, NASCAR, and others. DFSI has more than 5,000 collection personnel worldwide, who will provide UFC with greater global coverage than it had under the prior program. The unannounced sample collections will take place 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. DFSI will only be the sample collector under the new program and will not have any authority to adjudicate violations.”
Both WADA and SMRTL will analyze samples that are collected from DFSI. Dr. Daniel Eichner will serve as the Science Advisor. In the press release, it was also mentioned that the UFC will not be involved in any sanctioning decisions. As mentioned prior, that job will be left to George Piro.
“CSAD will continue the independent spirit of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, where no results management or sanctioning decisions will be made by UFC. With the technical assistance of the program’s science advisor, Dr. Daniel Eichner, CSAD will maintain all decision-making authority under the program, including adjudicating program violations, such as suspensions and whereabouts failures. Additionally, CSAD will maintain a “tip-line” where any information concerning the use/abuse of performance enhancing drugs within UFC can be reported to [email protected].”
The UFC also boasted about its new whereabouts system, which was a significant issue between the top MMA promotion and USADA. When speaking to media members in response to Travis Tygart’s statement on the USADA-UFC split, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell said that USADA simply moved far too slow on creating a whereabouts app. Campbell said USADA should’ve had the app done in three months, but he claimed two years went by with little to no progress.
