Cannabis remains banned in-competition under the UFC’s custom tailored USADA anti doping program. Today USADA revealed that Alen Amedovski was handed a 6 month suspension for testing positive for Carboxy-THC at a urinary concentration exceeding the permitted limits for the in-competition timeframe on April 20, 2019, at Fight Night 149 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
His penalty was reduced by three months “based on Amedovski’s successful completion of a USADA approved drug awareness and management program”
USADA’s press release went on to note that there are no guarantees that a substance lawfully ingested out of competition will be cleared by competition time with the following warning
Athletes are advised that the use of a substance or medication out-of-competition, that is prohibited only in-competition, may result in an anti-doping rule violation if the prohibited substance is still present in their body when tested at a competition. USADA cannot predict the clearance time for any substance for any particular individual. If an athlete needs to therapeutically use a substance prohibited in-competition and they are nearing a competition, they are strongly encouraged to contact USADA to learn if they need a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
Despite the above encouragement USADA has not yet granted a UFC athlete a TUE for cannabis as was demonstrated by Elias Theodorou’s efforts.
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