A total of 50 fighters were tested both in- and out-of-competition in connection with the UFC’s new drug testing program, with a total of 81 tests performed since the program took effect on July 1.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees the program for the UFC, released the tested athletes today via its website.
The 50 tested fighters represent 38 percent of the total number of fighters who competed or will compete on UFC fight cards since July 1, including Saturday’s UFC 192 at Houston’s Toyota Center.
The list does not specify when and where the athletes were tested. However, it does note the frequency of testing, and it reveals that several fighters were tested on multiple occasions.
Of those tested on multiple occasions, nine served in headliner roles. Overall, 12 headliners were tested, though nine were not. Ronda Rousey was the most tested athlete on the roster with five tests.
Josh Barnett, a three-time steroid offender, was tested just once in connection with his headliner this past Sunday at UFC Fight Night 75. (Barnett and his manager declined to say whether they had been tested prior to the fight, though his opponent, Roy Nelson, told MMAjunkie he had not.)
Among those who headlined an event but were not tested by USADA: featherweight Charles Oliveira, who headlined UFC Fight Night 74 opposite Max Holloway; Glover Teixeira and Ovince Saint Preux, who headlined UFC Fight Night 73; bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw and ex-champ Renan Barao, who headlined UFC on FOX 16; Michael Bisping and Thales Leites, who headlined UFC Fight Night 72; and Jake Ellenberger and Stephen Thompson, who headlined The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. It is unknown whether the fighters were tested by state-run athletic commissions.
Several fighters were tested on multiple occasions despite not being booked for a bout. Not surprisingly, several had previously been suspended for banned substance use.
For example, welterweight Thiago Alves tested four times despite being inactive since May; the American Top Team fighter tested positive for a diuretic following a 2006 fight in Las Vegas.
Dan Henderson, who drew additional scrutiny from state-run athletic commissions for his use of the now-banned testosterone-replacement therapy, was tested once.
Antonio Silva, who was suspended in 2013 after a post-fight test revealed elevated levels of testosterone (he was undergoing TRT therapy under the approval of the UFC), was tested on four occasions.
Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, who was tested twice, also holds the distinction of being the only fighter to not fight in the UFC and be subject to multiple tests. Justino’s contract is set up where the promotion pays her purses and she fights in the all-female Invicta FC promotion.
Among the list of notable fighters tested more than once:
Ronda Rousey: 5
Thiago Alves: 4
Bethe Correia: 4
Antonio Silva: 4
Anthony Johnson: 3
Jimi Manuwa: 3
Jose Aldo: 2
Andrei Arlovski: 2
Daniel Cormier: 2
Todd Duffee: 2
Cezar Ferreira: 2
Claudia Gadelha: 2
Alexander Gustafsson: 2
Hayder Hassan: 2
Michael Johnson: 2
Cristiane Justino: 2
Conor McGregor: 2
Frank Mir: 2
Dustin Poirier: 2
Kamaru Usman: 2
The explanation of why they listed these fighters is unclear. Are there un-notable fighters who were also tested multiple times?
A bunch of those fighters (I've bolded them) are proven users IMO or super suspicious. Bethe and Alves and AJ, I don't think any of them have actually been busted. But they'd be at the top of my list of fighters I'd want to be. So that's great to see. I wonder why they're each hit the 3+ mark despite no busts? Alves for diuretics, mind you, IIRC.
Straight-up, AJ is on some isht. Bust him from a face that swollen.
