UFC
NSAC randomly drug tests UFC heavyweights Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin
Oct 18, 2012 - 10:10:27 PM NSAC randomly drug tests UFC heavyweights Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Shane Carwin's camp has balked at proposed additional drug testing from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) for his Dec. 15 bout with Roy Nelson, but the two UFC heavyweights are facing additional drug testing from the Nevada State Athletic Commission anyway.

According to a report from MMAWeekly.com, the NSAC has decided to drug test both fighters out of competition for their Dec. 15 meeting, which will take place from Las Vegas and air live on FX.

The fighters were notified on Thursday that they had been selected for testing, and were given 24-hours to produce a sample. Carwin was given a list of locations in his area at which to provide his sample, while Nelson will presumably take care of it in Vegas.

Nelson has been vocal about wanting to bring about more testing in the sport as of late, saying he wants things to be on an even playing field. Carwin, whose name was at one time linked to a steroid distributing doctor, has maintained his own innocence when it comes to that subject, but his camp was unwilling to work with VADA.

That was due to an article that appeared on VADA's website recently, stating that Carwin being on the Ultimate Fighter gave him a chance to teach young fighters how to dope. Carwin's camp has taken the stance that VADA is "anti-Carwin" due to the story, but it has since been pulled from the site and the writer reportedly fired.

Penick's Analysis: Though the NSAC is performing this random test out of competition, their processes for drug testing are still well behind what VADA would have provided. Still, it's something, and if either fighter was caught off guard by the timing something potentially could be caught. After all, that's what happened with the NSAC and Alistair Overeem earlier this year, who was ultimately revealed to have taken a "drug cocktail" featuring testosterone and was denied a license for nine months. If Carwin's got nothing to hide, he's fine, and he'll take his test, pass it, and move on. For Nelson, if he were to somehow be caught testing positive for something, it would crumble the narrative he's developed for some time. Ultimately, I doubt either gets caught on anything here, and the fight will simply move forward.