Nevada Athletic Commission Announces Harsh New Drug Penalties

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The Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday announced that they are no longer playing any games when it comes to fighters looking to gain an illegal edge while competing.

After a rash of professional fighters testing positive for a litany of banned substances over the past year, the NAC finally had enough and vowed to put an end to what has been deemed an “epidemic.”

Today was the first step in trying to eliminate fighters who use performance-enhancing drugs, who try to mask them or supply counterfeit urine samples. Lorenzo Fettita and Dana White of the UFC were outraged earlier this year when some of their prized fighters -- former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, former middleweight king Anderson Silva and fan favorite Nick Diaz, among others -- all failed various urinalyses.

In conjunction with the UFC, the NAC promised that they would try to completely eradicate what many believe is widespread use of PEDs throughout the fight game. There have been cynics who believed the commission was simply talking a great game, but after their new policy was revealed in Las Vegas this morning, it’s clear that they are also walking it. The NAC is sending a powerful message to any fighter even thinking about cheating and it could literally cost a fighter his or her entire career.

The strict new drug policy will go into effect Sept. 1, and the commission said they will also integrate educational and accountability programs into the new policy. The NAC is desirous that all other commissions across the country will follow suit, with the ultimate goal of having a global standard by which all regulatory bodies abide.

The complete list is as follows:

Avoiding Testing / Detection of / Supplying a Urine Sample not of human origin or not of the tested athlete, adulterants, drugs (including diuretics) used as masking agents:
First offense: 48-month (four-year) suspension and fined 75 percent of purse
Second offense: Lifetime ban and fined 100 percent of purse

Anabolic Steroids (includes testosterone and HGH):
First offense: 36-month (three-year) suspension and fined 50-70 percent of purse
Second offense: 48-month (four-year) suspension and fined 75-100 percent of purse
Third offense: Lifetime ban and fined 100 percent of purse

Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, etc.):
First offense: 24-month (two-year) suspension and fined 35-45 percent of purse
Second offense: 36-month (three-year) suspension and fined 50-60 percent of purse
Third offense: Lifetime ban and fined 100 percent of purse

Diuretics used to cut weight:
First offense: 24-month (two-year) suspension and fined 30-40 percent of purse
Second offense: 36-month (three-year) suspension and fined 40-50 percent of purse
Third offense: Lifetime ban and fined 100 percent of purse

Sedatives, Muscle Relaxants, Sleep Aids, Anxiolytics, Opiates and Cannabis:
First offense: 18-month suspension and fined 30-40 percent of purse
Second offense: 24-month (two-year) suspension and fined 40-50 percent of purse
Third offense: 36-month (three-year) suspension and fined 60-75 percent of purse
Fourth offense: Lifetime ban and fined 100 percent of purse

In addition to the much stiffer penalties, the NAC implemented what is being labeled as the “Jon Jones Rule.” With that, the commission now deems diuretics used for weight cutting and stimulants banned at all times, not just during “in competition” testing. Jones was not penalized when he tested for cocaine earlier this year because his test was deemed “out-of-competition” and was not considered a banned substance during said test. “In-competition” is considered the day prior to a fight and the time immediately following a fight.