The UFC is willing to make drastic changes to clean up the sport.
In a special press conference Wednesday to discuss the drug problem that is becoming increasingly troublesome, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, president Dana White and chief legal counsel Lawrence Epstei laid out a multi-million dollar drug testing program that will require all fighters on the roster to be subjected to random, year-round testing, according to FOX Sports.
The UFC also will push for more fight-night drug tests and “additional testing for main-event fighters and championship fighters on every card starting July 1,” FOX Sports reported.
“The UFC will immediately advocate to all commissions to test every fighter in-competition from every card,” Fertitta said. “We want 100 percent of the fighters tested the night they compete in competition, and if there’s additional cost associated with that that’s outside of any state or federation’s budget, we will pay for any additional cost required.”
UFC officials also are advocating for tougher punishments for first-time offenders, which Fertitta said could range anywhere from a two- to four-year suspension.
“In recent years, we have made it a point to run toward regulation,” Fertitta said. “Now, we’re making it a point to run toward fixing this (performance-enhancing drug) issue head-on.”
The new protocols, which come one month after UFC star Anderson Silva failed multiple drug tests, will go into effect July 1.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@WWELatestScoops
