Kevin Lee failed to disclose staph infection on NAC questionnaire
Any answer is troubling from a health and safety perspective and this latest regulatory chapter in MMA’s books leaves much to be desired.
Via our friend Eric Magraken at Combat Law Sports Blog.
Following his UFC 216 loss to Tony Ferguson, Kevin Lee admitted that a visible welt on his chest was a staph infection. He suggested that he tried his best to hide it from regulators.
Lee admitted that the staph was known prior to the fight and his trainer noted that medicine was being taken to treat the infection.
It is one thing for a fighter to try and cover up health issues from media inquiries but it is quite another when these are not disclosed on pre-fight medical questionnaires.
Both of the above facts may land Lee in hot water with Nevada regulators. The Nevada Athletic Commission pre-fight questionnaire asks about both illnesses and diseases and medication. These questions are asked under penalty of perjury.
Lee ticked the no box when asked about both illness and medication.
These denials were made under penalty of perjury one day before his bout.
It is baffling how Lee was able to compete with a visible staph infection. It is more baffling that regulators allowed him to continue a weight cut that damn near killed him after an initial failed attempt. These regulatory health and safety lapses, however, don’t excuse Lee’s answers on the questionnaire.
It is not known at this stage if Lee is facing disciplinary action for his non-disclosure. It is also not clear whether the NAC’s physicians failed to note this infection or whether the NAC was ok allowing Lee to compete with a known staph infection. Any answer is troubling from a health and safety perspective and this latest regulatory chapter in MMA’s books leaves much to be desired.
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Author Erik Magraken is a British Columbia litigation lawyer, combat sports law consultant, founder of the Combat Law Sports Blog, and profoundly appreciated UGer.