UFC
UFC, Strikeforce announce new pre-contract screening for Performance Enhancing Drugs
Jan 17, 2012 - 3:30:41 PM UFC, Strikeforce announce new pre-contract screening for Performance Enhancing Drugs

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Fresh off the heels of Tuesday's revelation that Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone, Zuffa sent out a press release revealing a new drug testing policy for all incoming fighters.

Beginning on January 1, 2012, any fighter signing a contract with either the UFC or Strikeforce will need to first pass a drug test for performance enhancing substances. Should they fail that test, their contract will not be finalized with either organization.

"We're committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously," UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. "We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we're taking it one step further. We're going to test any potential UFC or Strikeforce fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don't want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport."

"The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority," UFC President Dana White said. “We've seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we're going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and Strikeforce. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field."

Penick's Analysis: The timing of the press release is likely no coincidence with today's news about Lawal, especially when this policy apparently went into effect two and a half weeks ago. Still, it's something that fighters around the world will need to be aware of if they aspire to get into the UFC, and it might potentially catch some fighters that would pop otherwise, but this doesn't do a ton to battle the issue of PEDs in the sport at this point.