UFC Denies Reports That Athletes Must Cover Costs for Pre-Fight COVID-19 Testing

UFC issued this memo moments ago regarding the then-new policy of fighters having to pay for COVID tests out of pocket: pic.twitter.com/7yGiflTj1E

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 15, 2021

While the UFC has updated its COVID-19 protocol, the promotion won’t be requiring its athletes to cover the cost of pre-fight testing as was recently reported.

In a memo sent out to fighters, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell revealed that the organization will no longer provide at-home testing kits as they did earlier in the pandemic. Instead, athletes will have the freedom to handle their own testing with the promotion reimbursing them for the expense. To be reimbursed, a copy of the receipt and a test result must be submitted to the UFC medical coordinator.

“Please be advised that we are updating UFC’s COVID-19 testing program to give all athletes and corners the freedom and flexibility to secure their own COVID-19 test prior to departing for their scheduled UFC event,” Campbell stated in a memo.

“This change is being made because low-cost COVID-19 testing has become readily accessible in the U.S. and abroad. To clarify, UFC will reimburse you for the initial cost of securing your own pre-departure test. As a result, UFC will no longer provide at-home testing kits. Recent reports in the media that athletes will be forced to bear the costs of ‘COVID testing’ are incorrect and irresponsible.”

The document appears to be in response to an initial report from Ariel Helwani, which claimed fighters and corners would be responsible for covering their own costs for the testing. Helwani doubled down on his reporting after the UFC issued the updated testing program, however.

Additionally, Campbell wrote that the UFC will continue with its current plan of testing fighters and cornermen twice during fight week.

“Furthermore, there are no plans to change UFC’s current COVID-19 testing program during fight week, which requires all athletes and corners to undergo testing twice (2X) prior to participating in their scheduled event,” Campbell wrote. “These fight week tests will continue to be provided at no cost to you.

“UFC is very proud of its industry leading COVID-19 testing program, which has produced the lowest positivity rate in all of sports, and which has allowed us to continue to hold events and to provide opportunities for you to continue to compete.”

The new policy is expected to take effect immediately, beginning with Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 199 card, which is headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Derrick Lewis and Chris Daukaus at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.