UFC Renews Contract With USADA, Testing to Increase Under New Deal

The UFC has renewed its contract with the US Anti-Doping Agency, UFC VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky announced on Thursday. MMAjunkie reports that Novitzky made the announcement during an interview on the JRE MME Show, extending their three-year relationship. Novitzky said that the new deail will increase the number of yearly drug tests from 2700 to between 4300 and 4400, a 59% to 62% increase.

The announcement comes as the two companies are facing criticism over allowing Jon Jones to fight at UFC 232 after Jones tested positive for trace amounts of turinabol. USADA said that the trace amounts didn’t amount to an anti-doping violation and could have been the result of his previous violations.

Novitzky noted that the deal has been in the works for six months and has no relation to the Jon Jones situation.