The UFC held a press conference today to announce a new drug testing policy that they are planning to introduce later this year.
The press conference was held today at the Red Rock Hotel Resort in Las Vegas with UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC President Dana White, and UFC COO Lawrence Epstein.
“As you know, it has been a few challenging week’s here at the UFC, Fertitta said at the beginning of the press conference. “While our popularity world-wide continues to grow, we have recently seen issues with several high profile athletes failing drug test. We are extremely disappointed in these failed drug test, but truthfully they a result of our commitment to enhanced drug testing.”
Beginning on July 1st, every fighter on the UFC roster will be subject to random performance enhancing drug testing and the promotion is longer for longer suspensions, along with bigger fines for positive test results. In addition, Fertitta stated the promotion plans to have every fighter in a main event or title fight be subject to random out of competition testing leading up to their fight.
The UFC will continue to work with state athletic commissions on drug testing, but they plan to bring in a third party to handle the drug testing that is scheduled to begin on July 1. Fertitta stated during the press conference that they have talked to several companies about handling these drug test, but did not name those companies due to confidentiality agreements they have with those companies.