The Savage Truth: A Prescription for UFC’s PED Woes

---

The first step toward recovery in any situation is admitting there is a problem.

Whether it has been wishful thinking, willful denial or apathy, it seems the days of Ultimate Fighting Championship pawning the performance-enhancing drug problem off to a hodgepodge of state athletic commissions is coming to a close.

The UFC is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday to address the recent spate of drug test failures, including those of mega-stars Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. The company’s last big press conference debuted its motto for 2015, “The Time Is Now.” Well, the time really is now for the company to do something about the epidemic of PED use in the sport.

It may seem like harping on the UFC when it comes to this issue, but I cannot stress the point enough. While PEDs are likely just as rampant in other sports, those contests are completely different from combat sports, where one’s stated goal is to render enough damage that your opponent is either incapacitated or unwilling to continue.

The UFC is also unfairly singled out inside the greater MMA world, but it is a result of their dominant position in sport. Their success has established them as the target whenever anyone brings up problems with the sport of mixed martial arts.

Related » Poll: Is Anderson Silva’s Legacy Tainted?

With that house cleaning out of the way, let’s jump into what the UFC should do to combat the perception that MMA is the equivalent of cycling or bodybuilding when it comes to illegal doping.

The company must realize they are the ones with the most to lose if this thing spirals out of control. The UFC is a billion dollar organization that, in all honesty, props up an entire industry. Without the Zuffa machine, there is no MMA industry. There are a lot of people who will suffer should this sport lose its legitimacy but none moreso than the UFC itself.

Second, it is time to jettison the “we’re tested by the government” defense. It could have worked had the company promoted events solely in jurisdictions that had adequate testing -- including random out-of-competition tests -- but UFC travels all over the country, including states that want nothing to do with testing their athletes. They also travel to international destinations where they have to provide the regulatory oversight themselves, creating a serious conflict of interest.

Third, there needs to be full-time, 24/7/365, random, out-of-competition drug testing for all contracted athletes on the UFC roster. This should be handled by an independent outside agency and should be as transparent as possible.

The testing should be as stringent as possible and include carbon isotope ratio screens to determine if there is any synthetic testosterone in subjects systems. Athletes should not be given any advance notice of the test times and should have to supply blood and urine samples within 24 hours of being notified.

Ideally, these tests would be administered by an outfit like the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) or the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) who can remain impartial and have zero conflicts of interest when it comes to maintaining as clean a sport as possible.

Fourth, there has to be a clearly laid out schedule for punishment of drug offenders. There will still be repercussions for fighters who are caught by athletic commissions that will need to be honored, but I would suggest drawing up a minimum standard that would allow the UFC to tack on their own fines and suspension time.

I would start with a nine-month suspension and 30 percent fine for a first offense. A second offense would warrant an 18-month ban as well as the 30 percent purse penalty. A third positive test would warrant a lifetime ban from the promotion.

These minimum suspensions would allow the company to supplement any discipline handed out by a commission or set the standard for fights taking place under their own regulation. Say a fighter gets popped for steroids and the state athletic commission hits him with a six-month suspension and a $2,500 fine. The UFC would then tack on an additional fine, bringing the fighter’s total penalty to 30 percent of his purse.

Lastly, we all need to realize this is not just an MMA or UFC problem. Anywhere there is an advantage to be gained, there will be a person or group of people looking to grab it. PEDs are a big part of all sports and they will never be eradicated, but that doesn’t mean that those who seek to promote or regulate a sport shouldn’t do everything in their power to create as level a playing field as possible.

In the end, I believe the UFC has gotten the message loud and clear over the past couple of months. It is hard to ignore when the man you have put forth as the greatest of all time tests positive for numerous substances after a fight.

There has to be more done to protect the integrity of the sport as well as the UFC brand. I, for one, expect to hear how they plan to do it at tomorrow’s press conference.

Greg Savage is the executive editor of Sherdog.com and can be reached via email or on Twitter @TheSavageTruth.