One particular item lost on most MMA fans is that USADA suspensions are UFC exclusive. The UFC has contracted USADA to conduct their drug testing, and upholds USADA’s rulings as a result.
But they don’t have to, and neither do the fighters.
Yesterday, it was announced that USADA had banned top UFC contender Francisco Rivera for four years. A death sentence to a fighter’s career by most standards.
In a prepared statement, the organization stated, USADA announced today that an independent arbitrator has rendered a decision in the case of UFC® athlete Francisco Rivera, of Bueno Park, Calif., and determined that Rivera should receive a four-year period of ineligibility for his anti-doping policy violations. This decision comes after the facts of the case were presented and fully argued at an evidentiary hearing on December 5, 2017.
Rivera, 36, tested positive for clenbuterol as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample he provided on July 23, 2016. Clenbuterol is a non-Specified Substance in the class of an Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
After a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Rivera’s case, USADA concluded that the clenbuterol levels detected in his sample were inconsistent with what could be expected from meat contamination. Furthermore, Rivera was unable to provide independently verifiable evidence to support his claim that he had traveled to Northern Mexico and ingested meat in the days leading up to the relevant sample collection. Thereafter, Rivera opted to have his case submitted to a neutral arbitrator for resolution.
In advance of the arbitration hearing, USADA’s ongoing investigation revealed that several pieces of evidence presented by Rivera to USADA and the arbitrator had been falsified to support the athlete’s claims that the substance had originated from contaminated meat in Mexico.
Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, deceitful or obstructive conduct intended to avoid the detection or adjudication of an anti-doping policy violation may be regarded as aggravating circumstances, which can lead to an increased period of ineligibility. In this case, the independent arbitrator concluded that Rivera’s conduct warranted an increase from the standard two-year period of ineligibility for a first offense, to the maximum four-year period of ineligibility due to aggravating circumstances.
Rivera’s four-year period of ineligibility began on August 17, 2016, the date on which he was provisionally suspended from competition.
This decision, which was rendered by an arbitrator from McLaren Global Sport Solutions, Inc. (MGSS), can be found here, along with all other UFC Anti-Doping Policy arbitral decisions.
Because Rivera’s positive sample was collected after he was named to the fight card for UFC 201, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 30, 2016, this matter also falls under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. As such, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission Rivera may impose additional sanctions on Rivera, including fines or a period of ineligibility that is longer than the period set forth above.
Well, now the fighter plans on fleeing the country so he can make a living doing what he does best. This means he will not uphold his contract with the UFC, and is basically skipping town to go fight with Rizin.
Should he actually do this, it is unlikely he will ever be allowed to compete in the UFC, or in the United States period.
Taking to his twitter, the fighter stated, that with his UFC contract done, “already did .. fuck USADA and their bullshit I’m signing with Rizin FF” (twitter.com)
The fighter has since deleted the tweet, but not before we caught it.
Thoughts?
