The UFC recently secured the Unites States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to run a massive PED testing program for the sport’s dominant league. A number of combat sports already use the USADA for drug testing, including the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).
On the same day as the UFC announcement, a controversy erupted, when noted BJJ champion Andre Galvao expressed outrage that on May 26, 2015, the USADA announced that 2014 black belt IBJJF world champion Felipe ‘Preguica’ Pena had tested positive for testosterone, and had accepted a suspension for a year, after failing a test administered on June 1, 2014.
By the time the year-long suspension was announced, it was ending in four days. For the previous year Pena had been competing in other, non-IBJJF events, was paid by sponsors, and had been marketing himself as the world champion.
Critics charged that the cause was likely that Pena was a Gracie Barra competitor, and Carlos Gracie Junior founded both Gracie Barra and the IBJJF. However, the IBJJF said in a statement that they maintained a hands off stance on drug testing, and that any delay was due entirely to the USADA.
In engaging the Unites States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to provide a comprehensive anti-doping program for the IBJJF World Championships, IBJJF has taken the important step to externalize the full anti-doping process to an independent organization to provide a gold standard program. In order to ensure complete independence and provide the highest level of protection for the rights of clean athletes, USADA is wholly responsible for the collection of samples, sample analysis, sample results management, and, when necessary, the adjudication of any positive test results from the tests executed during the IBJJF World Championships.
Given USADA’s internationally recognized expertise in anti-doping, IBJJF has agreed to adhere to USADA’s sanctions and deadlines, as they are the independent anti-doping authority. If an athlete is found to have a positive test, USADA directly informs IBJJF and the athlete about the positive result. USADA handles the adjudication process for any positive test, in accordance with the rules, which provide full due process for the athlete.
During the adjudication process, the athlete is informed by USADA that s/he may not compete in IBJJF events while the case is pending, and the IBJJF upholds that restriction, in order to avoid any other title from being challenged.
Due to IBJJF’s agreement with USADA, IBJJF cannot comment about the case while the matter is pending, and the first public announcement about any case will be provided by USADA. IBJJF is informed of the final resolution for the case on the same day in which the official news is posted on USADA’s webpage (http://www.usada.org/news/).
Thank you.
Galvao’s questions remain unanswered. Above all, why did it take 361 days to report a failed test with a one year suspension? With USADA taking over testing for the UFC, it remains a reasonable question.
