UFC To Increase Positive Threshold For Marijuana Metabolites To 150 ng/mL
Slowly, like a punch drunk fighter…MMA’s UFC is starting to wake up and smell the pungent reality surrounding marijuana consumption. While it may be to late for Matt Riddle, Nick Diaz and Pat Healey, the UFC’s recent decision to modify its marijuana testing threshold will keep their underpaid fighters from suffering any more – finical low blows.
[nggallery id=983]In a moment of clarity, the VP of Regulatory affairs for the UFC, Marc Ratner – made it clear that as long as you weren’t stoned the day of the fight…you’re good to go.!
UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner said the MMA promotion will raise the testing threshold for marijuana metabolites from 50 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL, which is in line with the recent change implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The changes are designed to make sure fighters aren’t under the influence of the drug during competition but could be safe if they use it weeks or even days before.
However, the changes will only be applied in places where the UFC self-regulates its events and not in its home state of Nevada where the 50 ng/mL rule will remain.
“When we self-regulate around the world, we are going to go the WADA standard of 150,” Ratner told MMA Junkie. “So we’re starting that immediately.”
The UFC acts as its own regulator when it stages events in places where there is no official sanctioning body, such as March’s UFC on FUEL TV 8 in Japan, where AlexCaceres tested positive for marijuana metabolites. The failed drug test caused his decision win over Kyung Ho Kang to be turned into a no-contest.
