After a scheduled heavyweight world title bout between Alexander Povetkin and Deontay Wilder was cancelled due to Povetkin testing positive for Meldonium the parties turned to the judiciary. ESPN reports that a jury in US Federal Court took just over 30 minutes to decide that Povetkin indeed ingested Meldonium after it became a banned substance … More US Jury finds Povetkin Used Meldonium Clearing Path for $5 Million Judgement

(Image via the UG) I have written many times that amateur combative sports not on the “programme of the International Olympic Committee” are illegal in Canada unless Provinces pass laws specifying otherwise pursuant to the powers given to them by s. 83 of the Criminal Code. Despite this reality some Provinces have failed to enact … More Quebec Government Confirms Amateur Muay Thai / Kickboxing / MMA Illegal

This week a lawsuit alleging that Al Haymon and the Premier Boxing Championships were conducting business in an anti-competitive way was dismissed by the US District Court, Central District of California.  For a great breakdown of this decision along with what it may mean for the UFC anti-trust lawsuit I recommend this piece by Paul … More Court – Promoters Have No Standing To Sue Using Ali Act

Today the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the UFC’s anti doping policy administrator, announced that Felipe Olivieri has been handed a 2 year suspension after testing positive for a prohibited substance in an out-of-competition urine test on January 11, 2016.  The test revealed the presence of 5α-tetrahydromethyltestosterone and 5β–tetrahydromethyltestosterone, which are metabolites of methyltestosterone. Methyltestosterone is banned at … More UFC’s Felipe Olivieri Handed 2 Year Doping Suspension

From the strange but true files, fighters competing at the UFC’s upcoming card in Halifax are entering an odd legal landscape.  I have previously canvassed some Nova Scotia legal peculiarities here along with legal positives for fighters but there is one regulation which deserves a stand-alone post. The fight ending groin shot. The Nova Scotia Boxing Authority … More Why UFC Halifax Fighters Can Win By Groin Shot

Today I had the pleasure of appearing on the Fight Network’s MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency discussing some of the latest legal topics in combat sports.   You can find the full interview here: As always I’d like to thank Gabriel for having me as a guest. For those of you visiting here for the first time after listening welcome!  For … More Talking Mark Hunt Lawsuit, Diaz and Conor Boxing Licences and More on the Fight Network

Last year the UFC controversially granted Brock Lesnar an exemption to the usual rule that returning athletes be in the US Anti Doping Agency’s testing pool for at least 4 months prior to competing.  Lesnar subsequently failed both an in and out of competition test surrounding UFC 200 and this created a host of legal consequences … More UFC Grants Angela Hill Waiver from 4 Month USADA Testing Period

Update January 27, 2017 – this week Missouri responded to an appeal of Haga and unfortunately refused to overturn the result leaving judicial review as the only remaining legal remedy _____________________________________ Tonight Celine Haga choked her opponent unconscious at Invicta 21 as her bout came to an end but instead of being declared the winner … More Celine Haga Controversy and Legal Remedy