Drug testing has been part of combat sports for many years, but the UFC has taken a much larger and broader step to reduce drug use by athletes after introducing its anti-doping program in 2015.
There were still many failed drugs at first, but the potential penalties were very serious, and the use of illegal substances changed dramatically forever. It may have made MMA a much cleaner sport overall, but veteran UFC color commentator Joe Rogan admits he still misses the good old days when fighters were able to use drugs that would improve performance.
In a recent episode of his podcast featuring Multi-Time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers as a guest, Logan talked about how much the sport has changed after Usada was introduced and fighters had to start pinching the lines.
“USADA – When UFC brought USADA, it all changed and people’s physiques melted,” Logan said. “They changed dramatically. Alistair Oberim is the biggest example. When Alistair fought Brock Lesnar he was drug tested and he was cheeky as f*ck.
“When he’s bent on stage, that’s when he’s ‘Uberim’. 260 (lbs), as solid, ripped, one of the most elite strikers on planet Earth and block was f*cked. ”
Overeem knocked out Lesnar at UFC 141 in 2011. This is a few years before the UFC partnered with USADA on a broader drug testing program.
That said, Overeem tested positive for increased testosterone levels ahead of the scheduled heavyweight title fight in 2012.
When Overeem returned, he struggled to find the same success he had done in the fight against Lesnar, losing the next two matches. Overeem eventually returned to the title shot, but first knocked Miocic out to Stipe Miocic when they met in 2016.
I wish Logan could have seen Overyem continue to move forward in his UFC career without any harmful drug testing.
“They let him get a drug test and he’ll be a normal person with good fighting skills,” Logan said. “I mean he wasn’t Uberim anymore. This destroyer.
“You’d have wanted to see what Alistair’s overyem was running in the sauce. My God. It would have been epic. It would have been wild.”
Following the end of the partnership with USADA, the UFC has moved forward with a new doping program led by former FBI agent George Piro, and is being tested independently by combat sports anti-doping.
Fighters still undergo daily and random drug testing throughout the year, with CSAD serving as punishment for the use of substances that improve performance. That said, Logan actually wants drug testing to be absent, especially when it comes to the heavyweight division.
“Yeah, I want to have fun,” Logan said with a laugh about allowing fighters to use banned substances. “I don’t want to see fat heavyweights. Get f*ck from here. I want to get Alistair back. Go back to the sauce.”