Random Drug Testing Continues With Tito Ortiz

by Luke Thomas on May 6, 2008 1:38 PM EDT in MMA News

Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) is drug free three weeks out from his May 24 light heavyweight contest with Lyoto Machida.

The 33-year-old former UFC champion was tested under a year-round policy enacted in January by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Executive Director Keith Kizer told SI.com late Thursday.

I've been fiercely critical in the past of Kizer and the CSAC's Armando Garcia for their zealous attempts to punish fighters who test positive for marijuana. However, I have to give credit where credit is due. This new development - so far - seems to be a serious undertaking by the NSAC and could potentially go a longer way towards making sure professional MMA fighters are competing safely and with deference paid to their own health. Well done.

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Re: Random Drug Testing Continues With Tito Ortiz

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jIfxqmYDVg93kFOhrXFAxRFU5GEw

Human Growth Hormone should be next... since they are planning to test for HGH at this year's Beijing Olympics.

by Nick Thomas on May 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Random Drug Testing Continues With Tito Ortiz

I guess I'll be the sole dissenter here. I think the idea of the state randomly coming to people and testing them for drugs is fairly outrageous, as well as legally questionable. Police could not get away with this kind of random and overinclusive testing.

I'm not really positive this will do much for safety, especially if they start testing for HGH, which has many beneficial effects. The unintended consequence may be an increase in other types of drugs that are not tested and may be even worse for fighters.

by Michael Rome on May 6, 2008 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Random Drug Testing Continues With Tito Ortiz

I'm glad they're testing and from what has been reported I like the testing schedule. If people are doing stuff out there then they have a clear signal that cycling a few weeks before a match is a big risk with the testers around and flushing your system is going to be a lot harder than in the past.

by twelvegrand on May 7, 2008 6:16 AM EDT reply actions