MMA gym testing fighters for recreational drug use
Implementing a Gym Random Drug Test Policy? From: jscorbett Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 4487 I am implementing a random drug…
Implementing a Gym Random Drug Test Policy?
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4487
I am implementing a random drug test policy for the gym I own. It will be primarily for fighters who participate in the local shows that I promote.
Because of a couple of bad apples, there is talk in my town that things aren’t on the up and up with the young men I deal with. I want to make sure as I can, within reason, that everyone knows things are on the up and up.
Does anyone have any experience with such? Anyone have a policy consent statement they are willing to share?
Haters, I apologize in advance for offending you. You are free to not participate in this thread and train and fight elsewhere.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4488
THC users will be gone. The big issue is recreational drugs.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4489
Ok. It’s going to happen. That’s not up for debate.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4492
You know, if the fighters don’t want to consent and participate in my program, they don’t have to. They can go to the other school in town. I will be happy to open the door for them to leave.
Simply put: I don’t care if someone who doesn’t want to be drug tested leaves my facility and never returns. EVER.
If they leave and want to fight on my show, no problem there either.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4493
We are in Georgia – no medical pot here.
If they don’t agree with the results of the test, they will be able to go to a facility of my choosing and re-test within 24 hours.
If they have a prescription that will give a false positive, my fight doctor will check any prescription information they choose to provide me to clear the matter up.
If they think I am an asshole and leave. That’s great!
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4494
If the police in your town were discussing you as a gym owner possibly being involved with fighters in your gym who may be selling or using drugs, would you think it over-reacting?
If another gym owner in your town was locked up for allegedly selling cocaine out of his facility, would you think it over-reacting?
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4498
Mex JJ,
I am going to focus on rec drugs right now. That seems to be the problem.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4504
Well Blazing,
After I have my attorney approve it, implement the policy and conduct a random drug test, I am going to try to get my policy submitted to the National Association of Boxing Commissions to see if they can push it.
I suppose everyone will get to see the consent form then.
Might as well dream big here.
Good night all
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4506
–see below
Mr. Corbett,
I have some questions
Is this a personal vendetta or are you truly concerned with the rumor mill of small town GA?
–No personal vendetta. It’s not a rumor mill either. It’s about cleaning up a fight team that law enforcement has targeted because of their poor choices. You see, some of the people associated with the team are in fear of consequences of just being part of the team because of the poor choices of some members.
Are you fearful of getting in trouble like the other place did?
–Not so much, but, it is understandable that there is a negative connotation about the martial arts in my town.
What percentage of your membership could you lose and still be solvent this time next year?
–LOL at being solvent. The people that are serious about paying there dues/tuition DO NOT dabble in recreational drugs.
What about the “problem” of pot staying in peoples systems for a month, effectively ” targeting” those smokers while “danger” drugs like cocaine, crack, heroin, meth, being washed out in 3-4 days from the body?
–I usually teach on Mondays, 2 days after Saturday night.
What about PED’s?
–This is not a problem now as I know. If it becomes a problem, I will address it.
From: jscorbett
Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 4507
I guess some of the readers here haven’t followed the thread. Let me cut to the chase:
– I started to ask for help from anyone with similar experiences.
– I DO NOT CARE if the gym loses revenue from loss of drug users. PLEASE THROW ME IN THAT BRIAR PATCH!!!!
– For when Joe Rogan reads this, I wouldn’t be opposed for the government to legalize the use of drugs and tax the crap out of it, but, since the government is actually behind drugs coming into this country (it’s in record under testimony in congressional hearings), that is not going to happen.
– If you are a hater, all you are doing is making me more determined to do my part to start CLEANING THIS INDUSTRY up and I will begin my little corner of the world.
– Krillaseth, I guess I’m going to take your title for largest recent thread ever because of the haters.
From: Marcos Avellan
Member Since: 10/28/09
Posts: 128
I’ve been drug testing my instructors and employees for about two years now… one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I know the potheads will be pissed about it – but so be it. Everyone has a right to do what they want – and the same way potheads should have the right to smoke pot legally (which I do believe in) business owners should be able to decide what kind of hoops people need to jump in to be hired by them. It is ridiculous that people can even think that a business owner shouldn’t have the right to drug test them. If you don’t like it, just open up your own business! I’ve not putting a gun to your head to work for me. I don’t work for the government, it isn’t my obligation to give you a job – it is my choice.
Now why did I say drug testing was one of the best things I’ve ever done? Because, based on my own personal experiences with drug testing, every person that was fired due to a failed drug test ended up being replaced by a better and more competent person. It could have been a total coincidence – but so far, it has been that way. There hasn’t been a single firing of a failed drug test that has come back to bite me, business and student retention-wise.
And yes, alcohol is just as bad or worse than marijuana and I am against any of my staff getting drunk as well. People who are drunks are going to be outperformed by sober people the same way potheads tend to get outperformed by sober people.
Is there a pothead or drunk that can outperform a sober guy? Sure, if you are a talented pothead or drunk, you can still beat out a less talented person. The same way a drunk GSP can probably whoop the ass of 99.9% of this forum. But if two people of equal talent are up against each other, it is my personal belief that the sober one will outperform the intoxicated employee.
Like I said, I believe all drugs should be legalized, I don’t think they are evil… but it is what it is… I’ve noticed poorer job performance from the people who smoke or drink everyday. Now on top of the actual job performance, the drug testing policy is also congruent with our school philosophy about living an alcohol and drug free lifestyle – so for us, it is a win/win situation. I respect everyone’s decision to live as they will and I believe people shouldn’t infringe on that (which I’m not, they can start their own business and smoke all the pot they want) – but at the same time, we have a personal philosophy that we believe works best (just our theory) and that is the lifestyle we are preaching because that is the lifestyle we think will help our students most.
From: Marcos Avellan
Member Since: 10/28/09
Posts: 129
And yes, I would get it looked at by a lawyer anyways because every state is different and certain states act as if business owners are obligated to give jobs to people and in many ways, the employees in certain states seem to have more “rights” than the business owners.
And I didn’t read your entire thread, I know you were talking about the fighters, but I thought I would toss in my experiences with employees because I figured you were probably heading in that direction.
I haven’t drug tested fighters because I don’t have the time but my guys do know that if they fail a drug test with the state – they are OUT of the team.