Enablers No More?

I’ve long been critical of the UFC turning a blind eye to the drug use of its fighters.  Whenever a fighter fails a drug test (how you are dumb enough to fail a drug test that you know about in advance is beyond me) Dana White always passes the buck, stating that it is the athletic commissions in various states’ responsibility to test and punish his fighters for drug use.  If one of your fighters is cheating during your competition and potentially putting his and his opponents health at risk, then it IS your problem.  And every failed drug test isn’t just a black eye on that fighter, it is also one on the UFC.  Sure he fired Nate Marquardt for a failed drug test, but that seemed to be more out of his anger at having a main event of a UFC card screwed up at the last minute.  Chael Sonnen failed the same type of drug test Marquardt did and White had the audacity to complain that the athletic commission was being unfair to poor, little Chael when they suspended him.

So it is refreshing to hear the news yesterday that the UFC has suspended Chris Leben for a year due to a failed drug test (painkillers).  Not refreshing that Leben apparently has a drug problem, but refreshing that the UFC actually took the initiative to get independent tests done on UFC 138’s fighters (England doesn’t require testing of fighters).  Refreshing that the UFC actually handed down a strict suspension to deter future cheaters, while also offering to help Leben (who, refreshingly once again, manned up and admitted his mistake).  This is the only road forward if the UFC wants to go “mainstream” like White claims.  Not hiding behind athletic commissions – take swift, strict action on its own.  It’s time to not be enablers anymore.