Leave it to the state athletic commissions. This is the current stand of both UFC and Strikeforce. The two MMA promotions company are not in favor of imposing additional sanctions to players caught using anabolic steroids. This is an indication that they are not willing to give in to the clamor of the public for a more comprehensive anti-doping policy.

An increasing number of UFC fighters involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs is a proof that mixed martial arts is not yet a clean sport. Top officials of both promotions company believe that their existing policies are enough in confronting steroid use among its fighters. UFC President Dana White even commented in an interview that people should stop comparing them to NFL and other leagues like the MLB and NBA. “What you guys have to understand is that this isn’t the NFL [where] you get busted and we are going to decide to suspend you for four games,” White told MMAFighting. “The government comes in and takes away your ability to make a living for a year or whatever it is. Then, on top of that, the money you made in that fight, they are going to fine you.”

While they want to show to the MMA fans that they are independent and capable of handling steroid scandals, their stance on steroid testing and existing policy on steroid violators are still considered weak. The MMA is gaining a strong following from younger generations so failure to police their own fighters may send a wrong signal. Some sports analyst even predicted that they could become WWE where the steroid era had caused many deaths of young professional wrestlers.

StrikeForce maintained its position that they have a zero tolerance against steroid users. “We have zero tolerance for steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I think those who do cheat will be caught by the commissions. It comes down to the athlete and if he wants to self-destruct his career. We stand by the policies in place by the commissions and by their rulings,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

Strikeforce defended their decision in acquiring Josh Barnett, the former UFC heavyweight champion who was caught 3 times for using steroids. Strikeforce spokesperson Mike Afromowitz said that Barnett must pass steroid test before CSAC can give him license to fight. The zero tolerance policy is still in place even if Barnett was allowed to play for the company said the spokesperson.

The number of fighters who are into PED’s may be higher since steroid testing is only focused on mid-level and top level promotions. An online source reported that there are at least 30 MMA fighters who failed steroid testing since 2002. But for former BALCO founder Victor Conte, an all year round testing on top fighters will be more effective in dealing with the problem of steroids use. “Those fighters need to be in a pool and subjected to 24-7, 365 testing. “You don’t have the dollars to test everybody, so you need to focus your attention at those at the top of the list,” he said.

Now the question is, can state athletic commissions solve the problem of steroid use? Certainly, they can’t. It still depends on how this problem is addressed by the UFC and Strikeforce. One of the issues is the differences in doping policies of each state. The state of Nevada, California, Oregon and Missouri require fighters to undergo testing during the fight and conducts out of competition tests. However, other states do not impose strict testing on players. This is also the concern of the Drug Free Sport. “Can you imagine a situation where other sports leagues or the NCAA had different standards applied state by state? It just doesn’t work. There needs to be an independent, national oversight program for there to be an effectively administered program,” said Frank Uryasz, president of the Drug Free Sport.

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