The UFC recently indicated that they were preparing to ramp up their punishments for fighters who test positive for illegal drugs and it seems that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is singing from the same hymn sheet.
The NSAC has outlined major changes to their policy on punishing drug users that in many cases will see an immediate two year ban for first time offenders and life-time bans for those who break the rules repeatedly.
The most severe outcomes will be for those caught using steroids as they will be subject to a three-year suspension in addition to being fined between 50-70% of their purse.
In many cases that would surely be an instant career-killer and should serve as a major wake-up call to anyone who’s still trying to cheat the system by using performance enhancing drugs.
Those caught using either stimulants or diuretics face a two year ban for a first offense, while fighters caught using other substances like marijuana, muscle relaxants and sedatives would still be staring down the barrel of an 18 month suspension.
It should be noted however that all the punishments, which we’ll list in full below, are considered by NSAC to be guidelines rather than set-in-stone laws, so there is still some room for leeway depending on individual circumstances.
Overall this is a big statement of intent by NSAC and you’d have to think that if this doesn’t deter fighters from using PED’s then nothing will.
Take a look at the full set of punishment guidelines below.
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Steroids:
Three years and 50-70 percent of purse for first offense
Four years and 75-100 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offense
Stimulants:
Two years and 35-45 percent of purse for first offense
Three years and 50-60 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offense
Diuretics:
Two years and 30-40 percent of purse for first offense
Three years and 40-50 percent of purse for second offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for third offense
Sedatives, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, anxiolytics, opiates and cannabis/marijuana
18 months and 30-40 percent of purse for first offense
Two years and 40-50 percent of purse for second offense
Three years and 60-75 percent of purse for third offense
Lifetime ban and 100 percent of purse for four offense
Avoiding testing/detection/urine sample not of human origin or not of tested athletes, Adulterants, Drugs (including diuretics) used as masking agents
1st offense: 48-month suspension, fine of 75% of fighter’s purse
2nd offense: Lifetime suspension, fine of 100% of fighter’s purse
