The UFC are effectively cutting marijuana use from their list of anti-doping violations under their USADA testing programme.
USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency) and UFC announced changes on Thursday to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and Prohibited List, the changes “designed to provide fairness to athletes” with a growing number of athletes using marijuana around fight camps.
Speaking to ESPN, the UFC’s senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky suggested USADA would have to prove impairment due to cannabis ahead of the fight to warrant penalties.
“It would probably require visual signs if the athlete shows up at an event stumbling, smelling like marijuana, eyes bloodshot, things like that. And that’s … something you rarely, if ever, see. I certainly haven’t in my six years with the UFC”, said Novitzky.
“Why the hell do we care what someone did a week before, let alone a night before, when it doesn’t have any effect on their ability to fight,” he continued.
Meanwhile, USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart says the change in rules “are aimed at this and to continue our focus on preventing intentional cheating and not to unnecessarily punish athletes for behavior that does not impact the fairness or safety of competition.”
“Most significant to the new rule changes, a UFC athlete who tests positive for carboxy-THC (the main psychoactive component in cannabis) will face a violation by USADA only if evidence demonstrates the substance was taken for performance-enhancing purposes such as alleviating pain or anxiety; otherwise the athlete will not be eligible for sanction. A positive test for the prohibited substance, THC, will result in an atypical finding that will only be deemed a violation if it meets the aforementioned condition.”
“This change is designed to prioritize fighter health and safety by not punishing fighters who may need treatment for substance abuse, which may lead to a fighter being impaired and jeopardize his or her safety in the Octagon.”
“CBD products have never been prohibited under the UFC policy but THC and other natural cannabinoids – found in many CBD products – have been prohibited entirely. While THC remains prohibited, the new change in policy allows more flexibility for athletes and support personnel in the administration of non-prohibited substances that may later be determined to contain THC.”
“Some athletic commissions that regulate UFC events in their jurisdiction still prohibit THC or other cannabinoids in competition and each fighter is responsible for checking the rules where they plan to compete.”
An end to lengthy bans?
Last November it emerged the UFC were attempting to ease the rules on marijuana use by fighters after a string of high-profile punishments. One of the highest profile in recent years was former welterweight contender Nick Diaz, elder brother of Nate Diaz. In 2015 he was handed a five-year suspension and a $165,000 fine, effectively ending his time with the UFC. That ban was reduced to 18 months and the fine reduced to $100,000.
The changes to the Policy and Prohibited List went into effect on January 1, 2021.
The updated UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List are available online.
