Independent Laboratory to Perform UFC 129 Drug Testing

CagePotato.com has learned that the Ontario Athletic Commission did not oversee pre and post-fight drug testing for last night’s UFC 129 event in Toronto, contrary to its current set of MMA rules which state that the commission will “[test] competitors for performance enhancing and illegal drugs, where it is required in the contract between the promoter and the competitors.”

According to former Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director and current UFC Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Marc Ratner, testing for performance enhancing substances and for drugs of abuse were administered by an unnamed independent laboratory hired by the UFC.

This isn’t the first time that the promotion has administered its own tests. An independent lab discovered that Chris Leben had the anabolic steroid Stanazolol in his system for his UFC 89 loss to Michael Bisping October 18, 2008. He was handed a nine-month suspension from the UFC for his indiscretion.

There is no word on whether or not any of the 11 planned events being overseen by the OAC will require drug testing, but no tests were administered at MFC 29: Conquer in Windsor or MMA: The Reckoning in Orillia earlier this month — a curious development considering how thorough the province was when doing its due diligence when considering sanctioning and when implementing a proper set of approved rules when the sport was given the green light.