CSAC ED: USADA shouldn’t decide UFC fighter punishments

California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster believes in drug testing, but after watching the USADA process around Jon Jones, he does not have confidence in their ability to sanction athletes in California.

I think it’s good to have doping controls, said Foster to Steven Marrocco for MMAjunkie. I think this process was a wreck, and I think we learned from the process. If we keep doing this to the fighters, that’s not serving the public interest.

I just don’t think that process is right. I think that the law backs up my thoughts.

USADA both investigates athletes, and then adjudicates, giving, at the least, the appearance that they will back themselves up.

It’s not exactly a conflict, but it’s kind of a conflict, he said. I’m not saying they do, but … there’s a perception of a conflict. They have a vested interest in making sure their science is right.

Please understand, I’m not saying [they have a conflict of interest]. But there’s a perception there, and I am saying this: I do believe there’s been quite a few cases that could have been solved quicker and cheaper and got the same results instead of going through this long, arduous process.

The main thing is we’re not going to yield executive discretion over fighters’ livelihood to a third-party drug testing company who has a potential – not saying its real – conflict.”