USADA Releases Statement on Drug Testing Protocols for UFC 249

Per MMAFighting.com, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has issued a statement on drug-testing protocols for the upcoming UFC return event this month with UFC 249. Based on the announcement, USADA will be on hand for the upcoming UFC cards this month to test and regulate the fighters.

According to the statement, USADA will have doping control officers on hand at UFC 249 and upcoming UFC events slated for May, but they will be taking “appropriate precautions” due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. You can read their full statement below:

“As we’ve stated, testing at UFC events is an essential part of a fair fight. We will have doping control officers at UFC 249, and will do everything in our power to conduct testing at future events, of course taking appropriate precautions to protect the health and safety of everyone involved.”

Next weekend’s fight card will be headlined by an interim lightweight title fight featuring Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo will defend his bantamweight title against former champion Dominick Cruz.

At UFC on ESPN 9 on May 13, former light heavyweight title contenders Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira will face off in the main event. On UFC on ESPN 10 on May 16, Alistair Overeem will face Walt Harris in a heavyweight headliner.

UFC 249 is slated for May 9. It will be held in Jacksonville, Florida. UFC also has fight night cards for the rest of the month, including May 13 and May 16. All three events scheduled for May will be closed to the general public.