Important reasons for judgement were released today by the Supreme Court of Canada addressing when consent to sexual contact can be taken away by fraud. What does this have to do with cheating in MMA? A lot. In short, given the Supreme Court of Canada’s reasons, consent to physical contact will be vitiated (taken away) … More What Do Sex, Condoms, PED’s and Mixed Martial Arts Have in Common?
In a long overdue move, the California State Athletic Commission has announced that they will adopt WADA Standards when asked to grant a Therapeutic Use Exemption for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. As previously discussed, this is a more sensible move than Nevada’s total ban given the legal need of athletic commissions to be alive to discrimination … More California To Adopt WADA Standards for Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Positive marijuana drug tests in MMA have made headlines again this week with both Jessica Eye and Yancy Medeiros finding themselves on the wrong side of the rules. In addition to facing various penalties they both had their respective victories overturned to a ‘no decision‘ which is a power wielded by most athletic commissions following a … More Marijuana and No Decisions in MMA – A Poor Use of Commission Discretion
It has been quite the week for doping headlines in MMA. Starting with the Association of Ringside Physicians call for banning Testosterone Replacement Therapy to the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s admission of the influence of money there has been no shortage of publicity. To cap it all off individuals from one of the most prominent athletic commissions, … More Drug Testing in MMA “Fraught With Obvious and Glaring Weaknesses”
If doctors are to blame for bringing Testosterone Replacement Therapy into combat sports perhaps they will also be the ones to take TRT TUE’s out. The American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians has issued a press release calling for a ban of TRT TUE’s in combat sports. Given the integral role … More Association of Ringside Physicians Says “Eliminate” TRT TUE’s in Combat Sports
Caught doping in an Olympic Sport? WADA will hit you with a 4 year ban for the first offence. If you get caught doping a second time you face a lifetime ban. Major professional sports, on the other hand, start with the equivalent of a slap on the wrist before moving to escalating suspensions. What … More Illegal PED’s And Science Based Suspensions In MMA
Vitor Belfort’s controversial use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy will be in the spotlight again if his title shot takes place, as rumoured, in Nevada. Belfort has never been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption by the State with NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer stating it is doubtful one would be granted. This is a … More Forget TUE’s, Can Belfort Even Be Licensed Under The NSAC Rules?
Earlier this year I canvassed the possibility of obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medical marijuana users licensed to compete in combat sports. The Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee has now addressed this issue, noting that “there are no good data at present to suggest that marijuana acts directly as a performance-enhancing drug” and confirmed … More More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports
It is no secret that PED abuse exists in the world of elite sports and MMA is no exception. Recent developments are shining a spotlight on this topic and the question is will this become a crisis for the sport or an opportunity. It all started with Georges St. Pierre volunteering for enhanced testing … More A Perfect Opportunity for PED Reform in MMA
When the UFC enters markets that don’t have compulsive drug tests some questions spring to mind such as what, if any, performance enhancing drugs are outlawed for such shows? Are Therapeutic Use Exemptions ever granted and if so who is in charge of granting these? The UFC’s latest event in Ontario provided an opportunity to … More “The UFC Does Not Grant TUE’s” When Entering Unregulated Markets?
Combat Sports Law 