THE CLINCH REPORT

By: Jonathan M. King

“Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!” Albert Einstein

It seemed like the clown show was over. With the TRT exemption in the rear view mirror, it appeared the drug test nightmare was over. Unfortunately it was just beginning. Kevin Casey, Brian Ortega, and Robert Drysdale, and Mike King were revealed as the most recent violators. While Ortega, King, and Casey failed for the first time, this was Drysdales second infraction. King, Ortega and Casey tested positive for substances, while Drysdale’s test revealed an elevated T/E ration, which is a red flag for testosterone use.

The latest disappointments join a long list of decorated fighters who have shamed the company. Chael Sonnen recently retired because of his pending positive test which resulted in a 2 year suspension from competition. The opponent he was set to face Wanderlei Silva is in the middle of his own CSAC case for running from a drug test.

The list is as long as it is distinguished. Some of the sports best fighters,currently are or have cheated! So with the list continuing to grow, what is the UFC left to do? Maybe they could start instituting their own penalties outside of the commission’s sanctions.

Possible Ideas:

• Use repeated failures as a way to trim the already bloated roster. Without exemption.
• Remove Sponsorships for the following fights: Take away the banner and the t shirts, remove all patches. Maybe this kind of penalty will remind you not to mess around in between competition.
• Weigh In Changes. Cap the size and weight people are allowed to cut, by weighing them in day of the fight! Allow a differential from the official weigh in, but no more 30 lbs swings. This may seem like an odd way to cut drug usage, but diuretics are responsible for a large number of failures. Essentially weight cut supplements.
• Fight Bonus Eligibility: If you have been caught cheating with PED’s, your not eligible.
• Ban PED users from any promotional push.
• Maybe we, the media need to take control and refuse to write about fighters who use.
• If the substances are illegal, then get law enforcement involved!

Of course these are just a few ideas. Maybe they are not possible, or legal, but at least it is a progressive thought. Hopefully one that leads to a possible solutions.

One thing is certain the problem is not going away with commission penalties. Perhaps if the promoter took more of a stance as far as penalizing. To the UFC’s credit they have increased testing and even taken steps to be at the fore front of testing, but until now the punishments have been dealt out by the commission for the most part.

Hopefully the firing of Chael Sonnen from his broadcasting duties is a sign that this type of behavior can not be tolerated in the UFC. Fighters using anabolics and PED’s that give an unfair advantage are no different than Panama Lewis removing Luis Resto’s glove material and dipping the wraps in plaster of paris.

It is cheating that can result in permanent injury. Hopefully the Billy Collins jr-like wake up call never comes. However if this continues, the tragedy is not a matter of if, but when?

Allowing this to continue defines insanity.