Two DWTNCS fighters punished by NAC for Cannabis metabolites
During a meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday, DWTNCS winners Jordan Wright and Anthony Hernandez received an identical punishment that included a fine, court costs, bout overturn, and suspension.
Jordan Wright and Anthony Hernandez did well on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, with a win over Jordan Wright on June 19, and Tim Caron on June 26, respectively. The now 7-0 Hernandez even got a UFC contract.
Unfortunately, both tested for metabolites from the demon weed marijuana. During a meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday, each fighter received an identical punishment:
•15 percent of their fight purses ($750);
•Attorney fees ($145.36);
•Bout outcome changed from a Win to No Contest; and,
•Six-month suspension, retroactive to the date of the heinous crime.
Hernandez will be eligible to fight again on September 19 and Williams on September 26. Most importantly, of course, the sport is once again safe from the scourge of Cannabis.
The NAC does not test for recreational drugs out of competition, but specified substances, such as marijuana, alcohol or cocaine, can result in a suspension for a first offense. The idea is that recreational drugs you do on your own time is your own business, but you shouldn’t fight high.
However, social attitudes towards marijuana use are rapidly changing in the USA, with a large number of states decriminalizing and legalizing it. The allowable limit set by most state athletic commissions used to be 50 ng/mL, but was as slow as 14 ng/mL. Some ACs, including Nevada, have moved the level to 150 ng/mL, bringing it in keeping with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards. USADA uses 180 ng/mL.
However, WADA added marijuana to the list of prohibited substances in 2003, after being pressured to do so by the USA.
From a sports perspective, I was rather ambivalent [toward marijuana], stated Richard Pound, an attorney who was WADA’s initial head and continues to serve on the Foundation Board. As we morphed into WADA, the USA was very keen to have it included.
That was in 2003, and the attitude in the USA has changed radically since, but the prohibition remains. It’s an anachronistic rule, and should be dropped. Mixed martial arts has some life-threatening issues, first among them extreme weight cutting. MMA doesn’t have a massive demon weed problem, and the NAC shouldn’t be trying to solve it, based on politically-motivated rules from a different time.