The UFC parted ways with USADA as their official anti-doping agency after almost eight years of partnership. The promotion’s drug testing procedures will now be handled by Drug Free Sport International (DFSI). Recently, UFC color commentator-cum-podcast host Joe Rogan mentioned one testing program by USADA that he didn’t take a liking to.
USADA is not very popular amongst fighters. Some have had real problems with the anti-doping agency and have often spoken out about the problems they had with some of the ways in which USADA conducts their tests. Let’s see what Joe Rogan had to say in this regard.
Joe Rogan sounds off on USADA testing fighters during weigh-ins
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During the #2083 episode of the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’, the host mentioned the new partnership of the UFC with Drug Free Sport International, claiming that they’d seek to work on a more logical way of testing fighters. But when he turned his attention to how USADA used to operate, he mentioned how much he disliked one of their ways of testing fighters.
Cutting weight for a fight is one of the most rigorous processes that a UFC fighter goes through. However, USADA did not seem to care much about that. They’d often go about their business and test fighters on the day of their weigh-ins, which is something that Joe Rogan doesn’t like about the anti-doping agency.
“USADA would sometimes wake fighters at 4 O’clock in the morning or 6 O’clock in the morning on the day of the weigh-ins,” said Joe Rogan. He also spoke about what fighters go through during their weight-cutting process, getting themselves exhausted and dehydrated. Hence, a drug test during this period may not be the wisest call from USADA.
“It’s terrible, terrible because they’re cutting weight [and they’re exhausted and dehydrated] and now you’re gonna test them on the day of the weigh-in. It’s so stupid,” The 56-year-old added. He also suggested how doping agencies should handle the situation when it comes to testing the UFC fighters.
UFC commentator suggests doping agencies don’t “disturb” fighters during weigh-cuts
Severe weight cuts have often resulted in a dire situation for many fighters. One of the most worrying situations occurred when Khabib Nurmagomedov had to be hospitalized before a title fight in 2017. As such, Joe Rogan mentioned how cutting weight affects fighters and proposed that if fighters are not taking any illegal substances, they must be given the time and space to deal with their weight cuts.
Arguably the best fight of #UFC209 was cancelled after Khabib Nurmagomedov was hospitalized https://t.co/LN4y6K1cFs pic.twitter.com/wtIuWtdmdF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2017
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“If they’re [the fighters] doing something, you can catch them. If they’re not doing something, let them go through this f***ing insane process without disturbing them. The weight cut is an insane process,” Joe Rogan added. Now that the USADA is gone, it remains to be seen if DFSI would do things differently.
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Drug testing is obviously a very important part of sports to reprimand cheaters and praise those who never tend to make a wrong move. However, Joe Rogan believes that there are certain ways to go about the testing process, and waking up someone in the middle of the night for a general test is not something that he’s a fan of.
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What are your thoughts on Rogan’s statements? Let us know in the comments section.