UFC fighters are subject to testing by both USADA year-round, and also, once a bout contract is signed, by the athletic commission regulating the event. On Thursday the Nevada Athletic Commission issued suspensions to three UFC fighters who tested positive for marijuana in connection with recent fights.
In 2015 the NSAC suspended Nick Diaz for five years after his third Demon Weed failure, and fined him $165,000, plus attorney’s fees and costs. It was later substantially reduced after Diaz contested it. Fighters failing first-time cannabis tests face a minimum nine-month suspension and maximum of two years, and fines ranging from 15 to 30 percent of their purse. However, the NSAC is softening its stance, and a suspension of six months is now typical for a first-time failure.
The Hill-Elliott-Pena Axis of Evil attributed the positive tests to taking fights on short notice and said they stopped using cannabis the moment they received notice they were fighting. The NSAC voted unanimously to approve reduced sentences.
•Jamahal Hill, who tested positive for cannabis in connection with a fight vs. Klidson Abreu at UFC on ESPN 9, saw his win overturned, and received a six-month suspension expiring on 11/20, 15 percent fine of his show money, and $218.04 in court fees.
•Tim Elliott, who tested positive for cannabis in connection with a fight vs. Brandon Royval at UFC on ESPN 9, received a four-and-a-half month suspension which expires 19/14, 15 percent fine of show money ($4,650), and $218.04 in court fees.
•Luis Pena, who tested positive for cannabis in connection with a fight vs. Khama Worthy at UFC on ESPN 12, received a four-and-a-half month suspension which expires on 11/10, 15 percent fine of show money ($4050), and $218.04 in court fees.
The commission tests for recreational drugs not in an attempt to catch law breakers, and in fact, cannabis is legal in many parts of the USA, but rather to make sure fighters are not high when they compete. However, given the ubiquity of short-notice fights, the varying length of time cannabis traces can remain in the system, the unknown effects of dehydration on the tests, and changing social mores around its use, the time to stop testing for it is has arrived. The juice of catching a fighter who might be high to some extent is not worth the squeeze of repeatedly suspending and fining fighters who weren’t high and did nothing wrong.
At the same heading, UFC middleweight Deron Winn was suspended for nine months and fined $1,800 plus court costs, for a positive test for amphetamines in connection with a loss at UFC 248. Winn will be required to provide clean drug tests prior to getting licensed in Nevada again. Nine months was the minimum suspension, with the maximum being two years. Winn will be eligible to fight on December 7.
h/t Steven Marrocco for MMA Fighting
