Hunter Campbell and Jeff Novitzky are speaking regarding the UFC's partnership with USADA

[neandertal]

Novitzky says that the athlete experience under USADA has not been popular due to the burden that it has put on them. /whereabouts reporting.

This is (was) standard WADA stuff, what is Jeff on about. Apps are available for a long time.

 

[rjmbrd]

That's cool and all but I don't see a single line in there that applies at all to what was quoted. Carry on.

I'll help you out!

This isn't related to 'the other big leagues.' The UFC has personally hired a retired FBI field agent from Miami to be the arbiter of the program. Jeff likes to say here "he'll be independent," for whatever you think that is worth.

This is not the person in charge of PEDS testing in the NFL and other leagues. Read this part twice because its the key to understanding it - the program is run by a single guy they picked to hire. That is who gets to say who gets tested, when, what happens with the results, so on.

"Free sport" is just their collection vendor. Thats it.

Let me know if that makes sense now.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

https://x.com/aaronbronsteter/status/1712593661672702043?s=20
Thread by aaron bronster above, transcription below.
Campbell says that the UFC have sent a legal letter to USADA that will be issued to media soon.

BREAKING: The UFC will be partnering with Drug Free Sport International in the future.

Campbell says that what USADA have done to Conor McGregor is disgusting and that they may be legally liable for it.
Campbell says that USADA CEO Travis Tygart "lost his mind" on the phone call that they had on Monday after he was told that the UFC were going in a different direction.
Campbell says that testing will continue through the end of the year and that in the new year, they will launch a new program. Campbell says that the way USADA have treated McGregor is different from how they have treated any other athlete in the past.
Campbell says that they plan on having an anti-doping program that will be even better than what they had with USADA.
Novitzky says that he is very happy with how the program has gone and that they have had less than a 1% positivity rate. He says that the UFC have learned that USADA is not the only player in the space and that they have the means to make the next program stronger and better.
Novitzky says that he will never be involved in a program that isn't the gold, and now platinum, standard. Novitzky says that he has dedicated his life to anti-doping, even at the risk of his family.
Calls USADA's narrative yesterday "garbage" and "trash" He says that it has done damage to the emphasis that the UFC have put on anti-doping.
Novitzky says that the athlete experience under USADA has not been popular due to the burden that it has put on them. He says that the UFC's internal team has been hard at work to give the athletes better technology when it comes to whereabouts reporting.
The UFC will be continuing the milestone recognition program. Novitzky says that they will continue to have the most transparent anti-doping program in pro sports.
Novitzky says that Drug Free Sports International will be tasked with sample collection, as they have been for the NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA, NASCAR and many other pro sports leagues.
Novitzky says that Drug Free Sports International is a perfect fit with the UFC because of how experienced they are with sample collection.
Novitzky says that Dr. Dan Eichner, who runs the SMRTL lab, which has the highest accreditation in anti-doping, will run the UFC's laboratory analysis and the science.
Per Eichner's recommendation, they will have the best EPO testing, use a leeching device called TASSO+, which does not require needles and blood draws. They will increase blood testing using this new method.
Novitzky says that they will have the most comprehensive prohibited list. They will implement oral fluid testing to be stored long-term to compare in case using stimulants proves to be an issue.
Novitzky says that they will be using advanced growth hormone detection as well. They will continue to look at biological passports with additional enhancements. Calls it "smarter, more efficient, more effective technology and more convenient for the athletes"
Campbell counters what Tygart had told him about the UFC not having truly independent testing, says that this will add even more independence under this new program.
Campbell says that he received a call from California State Athletic Commission Andy Foster after USADA issued their press release that he was happy that the UFC would no longer be working with USADA because they have been difficult for his commission to deal with.
Novitzky says that the independent administrator running the UFC's next anti-doping program is George Piro. George Piro was a special agent in charge at the FBI's Miami Field Office, was the Team Leader of the Saddam Hussein Interrogation Team in 2004 (per Wikipedia).
Novitzky says that Piro will make EVERY decision in the program and that the authority will be his and his alone. Novitzky says that he will be surrounded by many expects, including the aforementioned Dr. Eichner.
Novitzky says that despite the "garbage narrative" that USADA put out, that the proof will be in the pudding that the UFC's new anti-doping program will be superior to the one with USADA.
Novitzky says that USADA's press release has confused the fighters and managers and that it is counter-intuitive to their claims that they are looking out for the athletes.
Campbell says that USADA's response to the McGregor situation has proven that they run like a dictatorship. He says that they have tried to impose their will on the UFC and that McGregor, as an independent contractor, isn't the type of athlete that they are used to dealing with.
Campbell says that he assured Tygart that McGregor wasn't fighting in December after McGregor proclaimed that he was. Campbell says that there was NEVER going to be an exception made for McGregor where he wouldn't be in the program for six months prior to competing.
Campbell believes that USADA have used McGregor as a vehicle to advance a false narrative and calls it "incredibly unethical".
Campbell says that he believes the press release that USADA sent yesterday was rooted in "ego and fear" Campbell says that when he spoke to Tygart on Monday, he was extremely calm, while Tygart became unhinged. Calls Tygart an individual who's "dealing with a lot of sh*t"
Campbell says that Dana White always demands the best when it comes to all aspects of the UFC and that was top of mind when they went to develop the best possible anti-doping program going forward.
Campbell says that they put up millions dollars for USADA to enhance the anti-doping technology. Novitzky says that they haven't seen "jack sh*t" when it comes to technological advances. He says they spent $1.8 million to make things easier on the athletes and nothing was done.
Campbell says that he doesn't know where USADA will go from here when it comes to professional sports and it is clear why so many sports leagues have gone with Drug Free Sport International.
Campbell urges media to reach out to the athletic commissions to ask about their experiences with USADA. Campbell says that he sat through hearings that he felt were unethical.
Campbell says that Piro will serve as the adjudicating body for the athletes. Drug Free Sport will send the samples to the SMRTL lab, results will go to Piro after they are analyzed and the athlete will explain and it will go to an arbitration program (MacLaren is mentioned).
Campbell says that he thanked Tygart for the partnership and offered to work with them on a communication plan to show their appreciation for their work together, but that he couldn't get a word in because Tygart was so angry.
Novitzky says that Piro will not be waking up athletes in the middle of the night before they are going to be competing and that collectors will not be getting samples prior to going to weigh-ins or other times that will impact their upcoming bouts.
Campbell says that retired athletes or athletes that leave the pool will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Campbell says that there is a different between a good faith and bad faith retirement.
Campbell says that there was a lot of resistance from USADA when it came to USADA over-policing tainted supplements and no-fault findings.
Campbell says that USADA is now using no-fault findings to promote themselves even though the UFC were the ones who pushed for them.
Campbell says that they will now have the ability to beta test drug testing innovations that will be more friendly to the fighters.
Novitzky says that he understands why USADA has to be cautious given that they are under the WADA umbrella, but that it has blurred the lines from some UFC athletes who have seen sanctions from other sports and how it could impact them in the same situations.
Novitzky says that the Olympic sport model does not fit a professional sports model in many cases.
Novitzky on Jon Jones says that they are still looking for an answer on the M3 metabolite issue. He says that the UFC has a different athlete who has had M3 metabolite come and go for six year with no evidence of re-administration.
Dr. Eichner told Novitzky that if someone has been exposed to the M3 metabolite from a tainted supplement, that trace amounts could pop up for the rest of their lives. Novitzky says that there's no real answer at this time as to why.
Campbell says that a clomiphene study was done to see how levels will change over a period of time and that the general opinion was that it had a half-life of a specific period of time. He says that a subsequent study showed that years later, those same subjects tested positive. (Roid for a short time, get a decade long boost)

wow

big read, but got thru it

very interesting, thanks

am curious to know more about the Conor situation as things unfold

 

[Kryptt]

LOL steroids run rampant in the NFL and NBA. Having the same testing program would mean basically everyone will juice

So they are really on their way to becoming a legitimate sport!

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Novitsky is a POS

can you elucidate?

(srs)

 

[neandertal]

biological passports

Zero chance they do that. Dana would freak out if they benched Conor over this lol, "adverse analytical finding"

 

[svmr_db]

Here's who they're picking to run the new anti-doping program

 

[neandertal]

Campbell says that USADA's response to the McGregor situation has proven that they run like a dictatorship

Yeah thats the point with anti-doping, you need to sue them or if you are in the sports tribunal world take it to CAS. Thats very important.
There is no negations.

"Campbell says that he assured Tygart that McGregor wasn't fighting in December after McGregor proclaimed that he was. Campbell says that there was NEVER going to be an exception made for McGregor where he wouldn't be in the program for six months prior to competing."

Why did Dana hint at that in gazillion interviews then. Moron.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

I'll help you out!

This isn't related to 'the other big leagues.' The UFC has personally hired a retired FBI field agent from Miami to be the arbiter of the program. Jeff likes to say here "he'll be independent," for whatever you think that is worth.

This is not the person in charge of PEDS testing in the NFL and other leagues. Read this part twice because its the key to understanding it - the program is run by a single guy they picked to hire. That is who gets to say who gets tested, when, what happens with the results, so on.

"Free sport" is just their collection vendor. Thats it.

Let me know if that makes sense now.

Great post
Thx

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Yeah thats the point with anti-doping, you need to sue them or if you are in the sports tribunal world take it to CAS. Thats very important.
There is no negations.

So Dana wanted some leeway for Conor?

 

[blaseblase]

Campbell says that what USADA have done to Conor McGregor is disgusting and that they may be legally liable for it.

Lol for making him follow the rules? Conor spent 2 years out of the USADA testing pool. He had all year to get back in.

 

[infokuss]

https://x.com/aaronbronsteter/status/1712593661672702043?s=20
Thread by aaron bronster above, transcription below.
Campbell says that the UFC have sent a legal letter to USADA that will be issued to media soon.

BREAKING: The UFC will be partnering with Drug Free Sport International in the future.

Campbell says that what USADA have done to Conor McGregor is disgusting and that they may be legally liable for it.
Campbell says that USADA CEO Travis Tygart "lost his mind" on the phone call that they had on Monday after he was told that the UFC were going in a different direction.
Campbell says that testing will continue through the end of the year and that in the new year, they will launch a new program. Campbell says that the way USADA have treated McGregor is different from how they have treated any other athlete in the past.
Campbell says that they plan on having an anti-doping program that will be even better than what they had with USADA.
Novitzky says that he is very happy with how the program has gone and that they have had less than a 1% positivity rate. He says that the UFC have learned that USADA is not the only player in the space and that they have the means to make the next program stronger and better.
Novitzky says that he will never be involved in a program that isn't the gold, and now platinum, standard. Novitzky says that he has dedicated his life to anti-doping, even at the risk of his family.
Calls USADA's narrative yesterday "garbage" and "trash" He says that it has done damage to the emphasis that the UFC have put on anti-doping.
Novitzky says that the athlete experience under USADA has not been popular due to the burden that it has put on them. He says that the UFC's internal team has been hard at work to give the athletes better technology when it comes to whereabouts reporting.
The UFC will be continuing the milestone recognition program. Novitzky says that they will continue to have the most transparent anti-doping program in pro sports.
Novitzky says that Drug Free Sports International will be tasked with sample collection, as they have been for the NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA, NASCAR and many other pro sports leagues.
Novitzky says that Drug Free Sports International is a perfect fit with the UFC because of how experienced they are with sample collection.
Novitzky says that Dr. Dan Eichner, who runs the SMRTL lab, which has the highest accreditation in anti-doping, will run the UFC's laboratory analysis and the science.
Per Eichner's recommendation, they will have the best EPO testing, use a leeching device called TASSO+, which does not require needles and blood draws. They will increase blood testing using this new method.
Novitzky says that they will have the most comprehensive prohibited list. They will implement oral fluid testing to be stored long-term to compare in case using stimulants proves to be an issue.
Novitzky says that they will be using advanced growth hormone detection as well. They will continue to look at biological passports with additional enhancements. Calls it "smarter, more efficient, more effective technology and more convenient for the athletes"
Campbell counters what Tygart had told him about the UFC not having truly independent testing, says that this will add even more independence under this new program.
Campbell says that he received a call from California State Athletic Commission Andy Foster after USADA issued their press release that he was happy that the UFC would no longer be working with USADA because they have been difficult for his commission to deal with.
Novitzky says that the independent administrator running the UFC's next anti-doping program is George Piro. George Piro was a special agent in charge at the FBI's Miami Field Office, was the Team Leader of the Saddam Hussein Interrogation Team in 2004 (per Wikipedia).
Novitzky says that Piro will make EVERY decision in the program and that the authority will be his and his alone. Novitzky says that he will be surrounded by many expects, including the aforementioned Dr. Eichner.
Novitzky says that despite the "garbage narrative" that USADA put out, that the proof will be in the pudding that the UFC's new anti-doping program will be superior to the one with USADA.
Novitzky says that USADA's press release has confused the fighters and managers and that it is counter-intuitive to their claims that they are looking out for the athletes.
Campbell says that USADA's response to the McGregor situation has proven that they run like a dictatorship. He says that they have tried to impose their will on the UFC and that McGregor, as an independent contractor, isn't the type of athlete that they are used to dealing with.
Campbell says that he assured Tygart that McGregor wasn't fighting in December after McGregor proclaimed that he was. Campbell says that there was NEVER going to be an exception made for McGregor where he wouldn't be in the program for six months prior to competing.
Campbell believes that USADA have used McGregor as a vehicle to advance a false narrative and calls it "incredibly unethical".
Campbell says that he believes the press release that USADA sent yesterday was rooted in "ego and fear" Campbell says that when he spoke to Tygart on Monday, he was extremely calm, while Tygart became unhinged. Calls Tygart an individual who's "dealing with a lot of sh*t"
Campbell says that Dana White always demands the best when it comes to all aspects of the UFC and that was top of mind when they went to develop the best possible anti-doping program going forward.
Campbell says that they put up millions dollars for USADA to enhance the anti-doping technology. Novitzky says that they haven't seen "jack sh*t" when it comes to technological advances. He says they spent $1.8 million to make things easier on the athletes and nothing was done.
Campbell says that he doesn't know where USADA will go from here when it comes to professional sports and it is clear why so many sports leagues have gone with Drug Free Sport International.
Campbell urges media to reach out to the athletic commissions to ask about their experiences with USADA. Campbell says that he sat through hearings that he felt were unethical.
Campbell says that Piro will serve as the adjudicating body for the athletes. Drug Free Sport will send the samples to the SMRTL lab, results will go to Piro after they are analyzed and the athlete will explain and it will go to an arbitration program (MacLaren is mentioned).
Campbell says that he thanked Tygart for the partnership and offered to work with them on a communication plan to show their appreciation for their work together, but that he couldn't get a word in because Tygart was so angry.
Novitzky says that Piro will not be waking up athletes in the middle of the night before they are going to be competing and that collectors will not be getting samples prior to going to weigh-ins or other times that will impact their upcoming bouts.
Campbell says that retired athletes or athletes that leave the pool will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Campbell says that there is a different between a good faith and bad faith retirement.
Campbell says that there was a lot of resistance from USADA when it came to USADA over-policing tainted supplements and no-fault findings.
Campbell says that USADA is now using no-fault findings to promote themselves even though the UFC were the ones who pushed for them.
Campbell says that they will now have the ability to beta test drug testing innovations that will be more friendly to the fighters.
Novitzky says that he understands why USADA has to be cautious given that they are under the WADA umbrella, but that it has blurred the lines from some UFC athletes who have seen sanctions from other sports and how it could impact them in the same situations.
Novitzky says that the Olympic sport model does not fit a professional sports model in many cases.
Novitzky on Jon Jones says that they are still looking for an answer on the M3 metabolite issue. He says that the UFC has a different athlete who has had M3 metabolite come and go for six year with no evidence of re-administration.
Dr. Eichner told Novitzky that if someone has been exposed to the M3 metabolite from a tainted supplement, that trace amounts could pop up for the rest of their lives. Novitzky says that there's no real answer at this time as to why.
Campbell says that a clomiphene study was done to see how levels will change over a period of time and that the general opinion was that it had a half-life of a specific period of time. He says that a subsequent study showed that years later, those same subjects tested positive. (Roid for a short time, get a decade long boost)

So connie is 100% doping, USADA wasnt having it cause the motherfucker was clearly cheating. Meanwhile the UFC is like let the bitch cheat we need to make that bread and we're willing to let things slide, USADA was like no way this is a farce..... and here we are

 

[neandertal]

"Novitzky says that Piro will not be waking up athletes in the middle of the night before they are going to be competing and that collectors will not be getting samples prior to going to weigh-ins or other times that will impact their upcoming bouts."

So not WADA then.. ask Lance Armstrong about early mornings.

I think it was from 6 am but changed to 5 am cos of abusers, never in the middle of the night. Lies

 

[blaseblase]

USADA is a joke. Testing one fighter 50 times, another 3...

Test at the beginning of training camp , after training camp , before and after fight...

So no random tests? Let fighters cycle off PEDs like they were doing before USADA?

 

[Clark Rogers]

I'll help you out!

This isn't related to 'the other big leagues.' The UFC has personally hired a retired FBI field agent from Miami to be the arbiter of the program. Jeff likes to say here "he'll be independent," for whatever you think that is worth.

This is not the person in charge of PEDS testing in the NFL and other leagues. Read this part twice because its the key to understanding it - the program is run by a single guy they picked to hire. That is who gets to say who gets tested, when, what happens with the results, so on.

"Free sport" is just their collection vendor. Thats it.

Let me know if that makes sense now.

So you're saying UFC hired DFSI, AND an independent administrator for the program.

That independent admin sounds a lot like this guy named Dr. John Lombardo... he's the NFL's "independent administrator" for their anti-doping program, whatever you think that might mean.

I'll help you out, since we are doing that!

What you quoted was me making a joke about very specific posters here who all day today have said "they should do what the NFL, NBA, other big leagues do" and how some of the same people will now be unhappy even though it's exactly what they asked for.

I'm guessing from your paragraphs that you weren't one of those people, so you must just be one of them folks whose Jimmies are so damn rustled you just had to get it out wherever you could, since your point has literally fuck all to do with what you quoted. I'm glad I could be that for you, I hope you feel better

 

[neandertal]

So Dana wanted some leeway for Conor?

I think there has been friction for a long time.. Dana has shitted on them for over half a dozen years it feels like, I dont think they want it and dont want to catch people any longer, they want the veneer of it. And thats ok, very few in the US is serious about anti-doping really, but they will keep claiming it and thats the issue really. No more Olympics talk at least.

Without random testing window (except night) and whereabouts reporting there is no program really. But I understand as well that independent contractors is not really suited to this at all in the first place.

 

[Paolo Delutis]

You really just acted like the NFL isn't the fucking front runner in sports related brain damage, didn't ya?

They were helmets and armor...fighters wear nothing ...

 

[Dana's Conscience]

Can we just let them juice and call it a day?

 

[Paolo Delutis]

USADA is a joke. Testing one fighter 50 times, another 3...

Test at the beginning of training camp , after training camp , before and after fight...

Naw should be random as fuck, a schedule allows for work arounds and cheating...its basic scheduling if its not random testing...

Tester coming at the end of camp....be clean by then rinse and repeat ..

Too easy

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

I think there has been friction for a long time.. Dana has shitted on them for over half a dozen years it feels like, I dont think they want it and dont want to catch people any longer, they want the veneer of it. And thats ok, very few in the US is serious about anti-doping really, but they will keep claiming it and thats the issue really. No more Olympics talk at least.

Without random testing window (except night) and whereabouts reporting there is no program really. But I understand as well that independent contractors is not really suited to this at all in the first place.

Thx
Yeah I guess it seems like Dana wants to call the shots, not USADA.