UFC® planning random drug testing…FINALLY!
UFC's Marc Ratner confirms negotiations with independent drug agencies regarding a year-round blood testing program. http://t.co/02OUigTbj1
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 27, 2014
Ratner: Unannounced blood and urine tests are happening (in the UFC), hopefully (starting) in the next 3-4 months. http://t.co/02OUigTbj1
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 27, 2014
source | epsn.go.com (®)
The UFC intends to further its anti-doping effort as the lead promotion in mixed martial arts by implementing a random, out-of-competition drug-testing program later this year.
According to UFC vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner, the promotion is in discussion with “four to five” independent drug-testing agencies and is hopeful to officially partner with one by the end of 2014.
The end goal is unannounced, year-round blood and urine tests on the UFC’s stable of approximately 500 athletes using an independent sample collector.
“We are meeting with different companies right now and we’re going to have out-of-competition testing,” Ratner told ESPN.com. “We’re not sure when it’s going to start, but we’re working on it right now.
“Unannounced blood and urine is going to happen, hopefully in the next three or four months. When you’re talking about 500 fighters, there are a lot of logistics. Having fighters in foreign countries makes it tougher, but we’re coming up with a plan and (agencies) are making proposals to us in the next two weeks.”