“It Was Not Good Sleeping”- USADA’s Tests Gave Jiri Prochazka ‘Anxiety’ as Confessed by UFC Star Months Ago

The USADA, a name that struck terror through the nerves of many fighters. Also, they struck syringes. Sometimes almost too many of them. If there’s one UFC fighter who can stand witness to it, it’s Jiri Prochazka. The fighter who has been tested more times than one can imagine.

The fighter is about to face Alex Pereira at UFC 295, and he’s finally relieved that the USADA will soon no longer be a problem he’ll have to worry about. In the Czech Republic, the organization seems especially brutal towards fighters. Here’s what Prochazka revealed about his past drug tests and anxiety-provoking experiences.

Jiri Prochazka opens up about being tested 64 times

Recently, Jiri Prochazka appeared on an edition of The MMA Hour Show with Ariel Helwani. The fighter had an almost gut-wrenching record of being the most drug-tested UFC fighter on the planet at one point. Back in 2022, the fighter was tested a whopping 64 times in the same year.

Prochazka recalled being terrified and anxious to the extent that he wasn’t able to sleep peacefully. The fighter would also have to give a lot of his blood just for the sake of testing. Even the mere thought of the syringes may sound terrifying to some, but for Prochazka here, it was a routine.

“Sometimes it was like I woke up and ‘Oh f*ck, today they will come, today they will come!” he told Helwani. “I need to be prepared for that. Because it was not good sleeping. It was not good sleeping, many times per week…  taking blood. Here in U.S. they just do, like, thumb, take the little blood, like a drop of it. But [in Czech] they took a lot of blood. Like one bottle of blood.”

Clearly, Prochazka was happy with the departure of the drug testing organization that haunts his dreams. Now, with the coming year, the USADA is out of the window, and Drug Free Sport International is taking over. The question is, will things be any better moving forward?

Prochazka is happy with the changes

Jiri Prochazka looked visibly pleased with the advent of the new drug testing policy. Drug Free Sport International has been involved in countless sports and leagues in the past. Their partnership with the organization has brought relief to many fighters. Prochazka is one of them.

Also Read: Jiri Prochazka Holes in His Game Exposed by UFC Legend as Alex Pereira’s “Fundamentally Sound” Striking Favored at UFC 295

“Now, I am free,” he said. “Two more months and then another (agency).” Clearly, Prochazka has found his way through his shoulder injury. Now, he’ll face Pereira at UFC 295. Will his comeback be worth it for him? There is only one way to find out.

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