After UFC and USADA officially parting ways and contract getting over at the end of 2023. UFC will be partnering with Drug Free Sport International for their anti-doping program starting Jan 1 2024. Things and rules could change with the introduction of new independent agency.
USADA’s statement on Exit
CEO Travis Tygart addressed a bit of tension in relationship with the UFC primarily regarding Conor McGregor’s re-entering into the testing pool. He also stated that their partnership that their partnership might come to an end on Jan 1 2024.
“We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months.”
Travis Tygart
UFC’s Take on USADA Statement
UFC president and CEO Dana White called this a dirty scumbag move. During the Pat McAfee Show when asked about the what led to this decision Dana White stated:
It wasn’t an announcement. It was a dirty move by them [USADA]. There was no announcement yesterday. That was straight up scumbag-ism, what happened Yesterday.That would all be addressed not by me ill let Novitzky and our lawyer Hunter Campbell handle this.
Dana White
New Partners : Drug Free Sport International
In the UFC news conference Thursday, Campbell said that narrative is not true. Novitzky called USADA’s statement “garbage.”
UFC also Announces Partnership With Drug Free Sport International beginning on Jan. 1, 2024. DFSI is considered one of the best anti-doping agencies globally. They’ve been doing this for more than 24 years, helping sports organizations stay clean. They’re based in Kansas City, Missouri, and work with big names like FIFA, MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAA and many other major sports.
We’re not sure if fighters still have to stick around for at least six months in the testing pool. But, the UFC is really working hard to keep its reputation clean and fair for both the fighters and the fans by bringing in a new independent agency.
