Dana White reveals new drug testing policy: ‘We’re testing the whole card now’

Following up on the recent news that UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and title challenger Glover Teixeira were randomly tested ahead of UFC 172, UFC President Dana White spoke with the media regarding the recent drug testing changes, and revealed that the UFC will now be testing the entire fight card.

“As far as testing, what we used to do is we used to roll into town and the title fight always got tested, and there was random testing,” White said. “We’re testing the whole card now. The whole card is getting tested. Everyone is getting tested.”

Dana explained that the increased scrutiny is the only way to further the evolution of the sport in the long term.

“Obviously, doing away with performance-enhancing drugs not only helps us run our business, but it also helps the fighters,” White said. “If you can make sure you take a hard enough stance and you can keep these young, talented kids off these drugs, their careers are going to last longer. Once all the kids realize there is a level playing field, you have these guys paranoid, ‘I know this guy is using, I know he is, I have to fight this guy and he’s on it, so maybe I should do it too’ once we can eliminate all that it’s going to make the sport a lot better for everybody, them and us.”

Apart from the Maryland Athletic Commission’s decision to test the UFC 172 headliners out-of-competition, the Nevada State Athletic Commission also made recent headlines with the decision to ban testosterone replacement therapy in the state of Nevada. White gave his thoughts on the NSAC’s decision:

“I’m so f— glad it’s gone,” White said. “Because we’re still dealing with, you gotta get Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen licensed in Nevada. And Vitor [Belfort]. All need to get licensed in Nevada. Now the question becomes, because they were on it, their [testosterone to epitestosterone] ratios are still going up, even though their levels are down, and I’m like, ‘are you f— kidding me?’ They’re done, it’s over, and we still can’t figure it out? I’m so happy TRT is gone. It’s confusing, nobody understands it. Not even the doctors, the doctors don’t understand it. If you talk to three, they have three different answers on it. I’m glad it’s gone.”

Transcription by MMAFighting.com’s Dave Doyle.