Dana White & Co. Fire Back With Legal Threats as Ex-FBI Agent Gets Roped in After Conor McGregor-USADA Dispute Forces New UFC Partnership

USADA is out of the window, but the UFC has a brand new partner to replace it with. Dana White and Co. recently decided to not renew their eight-year-long relationship with the USADA. This means from next year onwards, the United States Anti-Doping Agency won’t be involved with the promotion.

A lot of drama with a lengthy statement from USADA CEO Travis Tygart is what ensued next. UFC leaders were accused of complaining about USADA methods and standards. Now, the UFC has an answer and they’re not holding back. In a recent press conference, officials of the promotion made a few announcements and clapped back at Tygart.

Dana White and Co. moves away from the USADA

With USADA out, the UFC needed a new drug-testing partner. Thankfully, they found their new anti-doping program partner quickly in Drug Free Sport International. The UFC athlete health and performance vice president Jeff Novitzky announced recently.

“Drug Free Sport International is a sample collection agency,” said Novitzky. “They currently handle collection duties for the following professional sports leagues. They have 325 long term tenured sports clients including the NFL, NCAA, Major League Baseball, NBA, WNBA, NASCAR . . . FIFA, Crossfit.” Novitzky counted off several major sports as he spoke further. “. . . they virtually collect samples for everybody.”

The UFC has also hired George Piro as their new anti-doping program administrator. Piro is a former FBI Agent who was responsible for interrogating Saddam Hussein. Clearly, the organization is not holding anything back with the USADA out of the picture.

Novitzky was also keen on thrashing the USADA as he went on with his statement. The USADA statement accused UFC leaders of making statements that made their relationship “untenable.” In fact, “one UFC commentator” was accused of asking the USADA to not oversee the anti-doping program. Now, the UFC has an answer for USADA and it comes with a potential lawsuit.

USADA lands itself in hot water with the UFC

The USADA cited testing controversies around Conor McGregor as the main reason that forced the split. Novitzky was clearly not happy with their accusations. The vice president made it clear that all Dana White and Co. did was discontinue their relationship by not renewing the contract. He did not mince his words when he spoke about the issue.

“The narrative that USADA put out yesterday is false,” he said firmly. “It’s garbage, trash. I can’t sit here and come up with enough adjectives. . .”

Also Read: “Disappointed for UFC Athletes”- Conor McGregor Wins USADA Battle as CEO Breaks Silence After 8-Year Partnership With Dana White and Co. To End in 2024

The promotion has now slapped the USADA with a legal action letter. UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell told the press that he sent them a letter accusing them of defamation. If the USADA does not retract their statement and issue an apology, they’re in for a lot of trouble. However, it looks like USADA CEO Travis Tygart is miles away from retracting and even further away from apologizing.

Do you think the UFC will win the lawsuit if the matter goes to the court? Let us know in the comments.

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