UFC Suspends Fighters for Marijuana Use Despite Promised Policy Changes

Despite promises of reform, the MMA league has once again suspended two fighters for marijuana use. After years of controversy over suspensions related to marijuana, the UFC administration, based in Nevada, reached an agreement with state authorities at the end of July this year. According to this agreement, the league would completely stop sanctioning athletes who legally use marijuana for therapeutic or recreational purposes.

However, these promises quickly fell apart. Less than a month after the announcement, fighters Yancy Medeiros and Justin Jaynes were suspended for 4.5 months after failing THC tests. According to league representatives, the organization technically did not violate the newly established rules, since the athletes’ urine samples were collected a week before the new testing amendments officially took effect. From the league’s perspective, Medeiros and Jaynes were suspended for “unauthorized use of marijuana,” in full compliance with the letter of the new rules.

Impact on Fighters’ Careers

Both fighters were already on losing streaks when the suspensions hit, and being banned until mid-November could seriously harm their future careers. In addition, both athletes were required to pay fines to the league for failing the test. Jaynes was fined $1,582, while Medeiros, considered a rising star, received a larger fine of $3,418.

Policy Limitations and Broader Implications

It’s important to note that although the UFC administration, led by director Dana White, reached an agreement to remove marijuana from the list of banned substances with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, this decision only applies to the league itself and events held in Nevada. Officially, the agreement does not extend to other MMA organizations or regional doping commissions, allowing them to continue penalizing athletes who fail cannabinoid tests.

Many other sports leagues and athlete associations are now considering similar changes to their rules regarding marijuana use, especially to allow medical cannabis for athletes. Since the beginning of the year, the National Association of Boxing and Combat Sports (ABC) has shown interest in such amendments. Their medical expert committee has already spoken out against the outdated total ban on cannabis use.

“THC is not a substance that enhances athletic performance or endurance, as evidenced by its subjective effects, which significantly slow reaction time and reduce an athlete’s ability to respond to changes in the environment,” states the official position of ABC experts. “In this light, we believe that marijuana and its extracts should not be considered performance-enhancing drugs.”