For those that may not know what USADA is, it is the United States Anti-Doping Agency. It’s the group tasked with ensuring that sports are as fair as possible at the highest levels of competition. That means they are the people that administer rigorous testing on athletes at pretty much any time they decide they need to do a test.
Since the UFC began working with USADA MMA fans have had their own personal opinions on the agency. It’s absolutely fair to say that USADA has helped the entire sport of MMA, but there are just as many fair critiques often levied by both fans and even UFC fighters themselves.
10 Helped - Cut Down On General Steroid Use
The most obvious way that USADA has helped the UFC is the fact that it very clearly has helped get a lot of PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) out of the sport of MMA as a whole. Thanks to rigorous testing and improved technology, it’s much more difficult to cheat effectively.
Even those that may still be able to get away with cheating risk being caught from one randomly assigned drug test. Being caught cheating could not only ruin the legitimacy of a fighter, but it could be the end of a fighter’s career if PEDs were a big part of their success.
9 Hurt - Historically Huge Punishments For Silly Infractions
Anyone who’s been a fan of the UFC for any stretch of time likely knows of the Diaz brothers, and that means they’ve likely heard of what happened to Nick Diaz. As the story goes, Nick was suspended from active competition by USADA for five years for marijuana use.
Both at the time and even more so now, pretty much everyone agreed that the suspension was outrageous. While USADA has changed some of its guidelines in recent years, it’s hard to deny how much the suspension of someone so talented likely hurt the UFC.
8 Helped - Willingness To Change Regulations
While USADA has certainly created a lot of messes with its strict guidelines, the agency has shown a willingness to adapt and change with the times, something that many are grateful for. It seems that USADA has been willing to shift its policies around marijuana for UFC fighters.
Even if penalties for Marijuana use weren’t eliminated entirely, a severe reduction in suspension time and not adding usage up as repeat offenses would have been the best call. Luckily, the discussion around that kind of drug use in the UFC has mostly disappeared.
7 Hurt - Keeping Major Stars From Thriving
While most people tend to agree that if a fighter is caught using PEDs, they should suffer the consequences, it’s hard to deny that some major stars have suffered serious setbacks thanks to USADA policies. Even the biggest stars in UFC history haven’t been immune to USADA violations.
Big names like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Frank Mir have all dealt with USADA violations in the past. While some thrived regardless, it’s fair to say that people like Jon Jones, Nick Diaz, and many others have had career setbacks thanks to USADA (and their own actions).
6 Helped - Competition Is Viewed As Much More Fair
Having a rigorous set of tests to catch potential cheaters in the UFC is something that has helped the company feel more legitimate. If someone truly wants to have the best roster of fighters in the world, those fighters should be able to demonstrate their skill without help from drugs.
The USADA process has not only helped legitimize the UFC, but also the various fighters that go under their testing. It can’t be easy to get away with drug use when USADA comes knocking, so many fighters are showing off just how naturally gifted they are at all times.
5 Hurt - It’s Possible Some Use PEDs Without Getting Caught
Some fighters have anonymously claimed that they believe despite USADA, some fighters do actually manage to get away with PED usage in training camps. While that’s hard to know for sure, anyone who sees an opportunity to cheat the system for glory and fame will likely do so.
The biggest issue some fighters have voiced are those that train outside of USADA jurisdiction. It’s not only fighters, there are plenty of fans who are concerned that the sport they love may be being gamed by cheaters who’ve found some excellent loopholes in the process.
4 Helped - PEDs Can’t Generally Be Used As An Excuse For A Loss
Long before people were seriously tested for PEDs, there were quite a few fighters who would accuse their opponents of having had extra help to win after they themselves took a loss. Thanks to all of USADA’s testing, it’s almost impossible to use that excuse now.
That’s not only something that has helped the UFC, fans have been helped as well. Since PEDs can’t be used as an excuse, fans know that their favorite fights are almost certainly legitimate. If PEDs do play into the outcome of a fight, the entire decision is likely to be overturned at some point.
3 Hurt - It Created Potential Use Of Addictive Medications
Something that a lot of people don’t think about is what certain restrictions may force fighters into doing. Some have stated that due to certain types of medications triggering a positive result on a drug test, many fighters historically had to turn to medications that were more addictive in nature.
Whether that issue has been addressed or not is unclear, but regardless, all it takes is one use of something potentially addictive to change someone's life forever. Strict testing isn’t always a good thing if it means turning to potentially riskier medicine.
2 Helped - Willingness To Lessen Suspension Times
A lot of people often complain about USADA suspension times without being aware of how the system works. In a lot of cases, people are able to lessen their suspension times in various ways. The biggest one is, not hindering an active investigation.
While no one wants to admit to having cheated, it’s possible that good behavior and other actions could result in a reduced suspension for first-time offenders. When it comes to repeat offenders, good luck getting a reduced suspension when more positive tests make suspensions longer.
1 Hurt - Potential Violations Can Sideline Fighters
While a positive test for PEDs is obviously an issue, an even bigger issue can come when USADA simply only suspects a violation has occurred. Because a variety of substances can trigger a positive test, some infractions require deeper investigation.
A violation can be proven to not be an actual issue a day after a fight night, but if the fighter had to be pulled from the card, that creates a serious issue for a lot of people. While there doesn’t seem to be a good answer for potential violations, there have been some issues within the UFC with this very thing in the past.