The UFC will no longer punish fighters for marijuana use in most cases, drastically changing its anti-doping policy.
The world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion confirmed Thursday that it will no longer worry about advanced testing for carboxy-THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, unless it is believed to have been used by a fighter. deliberately to raise performance.
All other cannabinoids that come naturally from marijuana are no longer banned substances, said Jeff Novitzky, UFC senior vice president of athlete health and performance.
“The bottom line, in terms of marijuana, is that we care about what an athlete eats on a fight day, not days or weeks before a fight, which has often been the case in THC cases. Our historic progress, ”Novitzky said. “UFC athletes will remain subject to marijuana rules under various athletic commission rules, but we hope this is the start of a wider debate and changes on this issue with that organization.”
Of course, the UFC decision does not affect the rules of various state athletics commissions and international regulatory bodies, but these bodies often follow promoters ’guidelines on anti-doping policy. The UFC hopes that state commissions will similarly relax their rules to reflect the broader tolerance for marijuana use.
The UFC will not allow fighters to compete while under the influence of cannabinoids, but Novitzky said the promotion recognizes that MMA fighters often use marijuana for pain management or relaxation. Fighters advocating the use of legally competitive marijuana have previously argued that a break in UFC anti-marijuana rules could lead to a reduction in the use of more addictive pain medications.
The UFC partnered with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2015 to implement an extensive anti-doping program in sports that were highly fraudulent. Mixed martial arts once often showcased semi-open fighters by using steroids and testosterone instead of testosterone, among other performance boosts.
Despite the previous ban, marijuana and CBD products have played a prominent role in the training and financial support of many MMA fighters. Many fighters have received funding from CBD businesses, while others have launched CBD-related business initiatives.
Nick and Nate Diaz, two semi-professional but popular fighters from Stockton, California, have raised their forbidden image to some extent around the enthusiastic use of marijuana and CBD products. Nick Diaz, who has not fought in six years, was convicted of marijuana use after two of his last three fights.