UFC
Rory MacDonald joins B.J. Penn in VADA drug testing for UFC 152 showdown
Jul 27, 2012 - 12:05:42 PM Rory MacDonald joins B.J. Penn in VADA drug testing for UFC 152 showdown

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Sticking by his word, UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald will join his UFC 152 opponent B.J. Penn in undergoing random drug testing by the Volunteer Anti-Doping Association ahead of their bout.

VADA announced Penn's participation on Thursday, and in an interview with MMAJunkie.com, MacDonald's manager, Lex McMahon, revealed they were doing the same. Both fighters will be subject to random blood and urine tests for eight weeks leading into their bout, in addition to any testing done by the UFC.

"Our camp is very happy that B.J. has decided to participate in the VADA program that he had put forward," McMahon said. "Rory's completing his paperwork and will be joining him soon, and I think that Rory is definitely excited about the possibilities of what this means for the sport in the big picture, and he's happy he can play a small role in this."

Penn initially balked at VADA's need to release results of the tests immediately, wanting to withhold results until after the fight so as not to affect their booking at UFC 152. That's not how the system works, however, and Penn eventually decided to go ahead with the program as it is. Results of any of the random tests during that time period will be immediately revealed to the ABC, Ontario governing body, and the UFC.

Penick's Analysis: MacDonald and Penn are taking a step in a new direction for testing in the sport. It will be interesting to see how many follow suit and whether or not VADA testing starts to gain a foothold in the sport. It's already resulted in some high-profile busts in boxing, and any fighter signing up for it claiming they're clean better be sure they are, or it's going to lead to the same happening in MMA. Still, as the problems surrounding drug use and abuse in MMA continue to grow, a new approach is needed. VADA being the answer or not is still too early to tell, but it's something more comprehensive than what we're seeing from Athletic commissions with simple pre and post fight urine tests.