The United States Anti-Doping Agency (UFC) has been the anti-doping watch dog for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) since 2015. Now it would appear that the agency has opened a new laboratory.
Before the days of USADA, fighters competing within the UFC had a few more options concerning their pre-fight preparations. For instance, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) was once a permissible practice for fighters that were granted therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) from their doctors.
TRT provided UFC fighters with a boon of the sex hormone testosterone, granting the taker a performance enhancement. Of course, TRT also serves other purposes. The practice is used to aid those suffering from low testosterone, also known as low t.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Low t can bring on a series of debilitating symptoms that range from hair loss to erectile dysfunction. Top medical clinics such as Atlanta Men’s Clinic offer testosterone replacement therapy for those seeking relief from their low t symptoms. Still, TRT is a banned illegal practice under USADA’s reign of the UFC.
IV Therapy
Beyond that, the excessive use of IV re-hydration therapy has since been banned under USADA within the UFC. Any use above of IVs above 50mL (~3.4 tablespoons) per 6 hour period is no longer permissible.
IVs of course aid everyone, not just UFC fighters looking to find a faster way to re-hydrate after a tough weight cut. The practice can be used to administer TRT, for instance.
Still, USADA has tightened many of the regulations on substance use and general practices within the UFC. Taking to Instagram, Mark Hunt has now decided to reveal a letter he recently received from USADA.
Within the social media message, it is revealed that USADA has now authorized Doping Control Agency Thailand to conduct doping controls on behalf of USADA. Check it out below.
“great to see everyone getting tested”
