NSAC announces improved drug testing policy, severe punishments to defaulters
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) revised their drug testing policy yesterday. The new-and-improved testing policy is designed to deter and severely punish those combat sports fighters who test positive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and has received a lot of appreciation from the fans and the officials. The new guidelines will come into existence on September 1st.
MMAJunkie released a memo of the new guidelines:
Steroids:
Three years and 50-70 percent of purse for first offense
Four years and 75-100 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offenseStimulants:
Two years and 35-45 percent of purse for first offense
Three years and 50-60 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offenseDiuretics:
One year and 30-40 percent of purse for first offense
Two years and 40-50 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offenseSedatives, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, anxiolytics, opiates and cannabis/marijuana:
18 months and 30-40 percent of purse for first offense
Two years and 40-50 percent of purse for second offense
Three years and 60-75 percent of purse for third offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for four offense
UFC has also promised to improve their drug testing policies after few of their fighter were tested positive for some banned substances. Anderson Silva and Hector Lombard were popped for steroids, whereas Nick Diaz was caught for smoking pot.
Even though the guidelines have been framed, each case will be decided on its own merits. So the above mentioned punishments cant be considered mandatory. We just hope that the new revision brings down the instances of substance abuse.