Texas reverses Casey’s NC, lifts suspension

At UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas, Texas, women’s strawweight Cortney Casey defeated Jessica Aguilar in the biggest win of her career. Unfortunately, it was ruined when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) administered an anti-doping test without an adequate understanding of the complex issue.

Casey had a test flagged for an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio. Anything over 4:1 is flagged in Texas, and Casey’s was 5.4:1. WADA also uses the 4:1 ratio as well, but as a trigger for a more specialized isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) test, rather than a cause of sanction in and of itself.

Unfortunately, the TDLR then went Ready, FIRE, Aim. The commission changed Casey’s the win to a No Contest, and suspended her for 90 days, and administered a fine. Casey requested that her ‘B’ sample be tested, and Texas did

The day they got her test results, the commission changed Casey’s win to a No Contest, and suspended her for 90 days, and administered a fine. Casey requested that her ‘B’ sample be tested, and Texas did so, but charged her for it. And the more sophisticated test came back clean. The unusual T:E ratio was not caused by exogenous testosterone; its a ration and rather than high testosterone, it can be caused by low epitestosterone, which can happen from the use of birth control pills. And female fighters are not allowed to fight pregnant, so birth control is a professional necessity.

While the TDLR suspended Casey the day they got the ‘A’ sample, it took a week after the ‘B’ sample before they reversed their misinformed action. In the mean time, UFC VP of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky declared himself “sickened” by the TDLR’s failures, the UFC noted they might be forced to avoid Texas, UFC president Dana White said the TDLR had to get their s*** together, and Casey asked where she could go to get her reputation back.

There is no answer to the Casey concern. Damage has been done. But in a letter to the fighter, TDLR executive director Brian Francis reversed the NC, fine, and suspension.

After reexamination of the documents in our possession and careful examination of the Sample B results, your 90-day suspension is lifted effective June 29, 2017, the enforcement case dropped with no further action taken, and the bout ‘win’ reinstated on your record, read the document.

Francis apologized for the delay and noted he wanted to have all the informational available.” Francis further stated that department protocol was followed in issuing the sanctions following an elevated T:E ration. That’s something like convicting someone of a DUI because they had red eyes.

At the very least Casey is owed a very public apology and the sport is owed an explanation of what steps have been taken so the error is not repeated.