USADA Agents Visit ATT, Ban Use Of IVs

The new UFC Anti-Doping policy is set to begin July 1. USADA, or United States Anti-Doping Agency, who will be acting as an independent tester and overseeing the program, is currently making the rounds to inform fighters and gyms of the new policy and all its rules.

A source from American Top Team, in Coconut Creek, FL, told BJPENN.COM that USADA came into the gym today, for a scheduled visit, and talked to the fighters about the impending shift. One major event that was revealed to the gym is that the use of an IV in order to rehydrate after weigh-ins is now prohibited.

This is a pretty interesting revelation, especially if you are a fighter that cuts a significant amount of weight. The source, close to the situation, says that with this news there will most likely be a serious number of fighters who will have to move weight classes.

ATT fighter Roan Jucao Carneiro released this statement on Twitter:

according @usantidoping PEDS rules, IV isn't allowed for @ufc after weigh in anymore. How fighters will rehydrate with that new policy.

— Roan Jucao (@jucao) June 26, 2015

The USADAs’s website talks about the use of an IV for rehydration and has this statement:

We have seen an increase in inquires at USADA about the use of Intravenous (IV) Infusions for this purpose, and would like to assist athletes and medical personnel by offering education. In accordance with the WADA Prohibited List (Category M2 Chemical and Physical Manipulation), all IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50mL (~3.4 tablespoons) per 6-hour period are prohibited, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations. IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50mL per 6-hour period are prohibited at all times, both in- and out-of-competition unless the athlete has applied for and been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) under the applicable anti-doping rules. Further, if a prohibited substance that is administered intravenously or via injection, a TUE is necessary for this substance regardless of volume.

Some reports suggest that administration of IV infusions, including dietary supplement and vitamin cocktails, are being provided to athletes for recuperation, recovery or lifestyle reasons. This medical practice is prohibited at all times without prior TUE approval. WADA has justified the inclusion of IV infusions on the Prohibited List given the intent of some athletes to manipulate their plasma volume levels in order to mask the use of a prohibited substance and/or to distort the values in the Athlete Biological Passport. Further, it must be clearly stated that the use of IV fluid replacement following exercise to correct mild rehydration or help speed recovery is not clinically indicated nor substantiated by the medical literature. There is a well-established body of scientific opinion to confirm that oral rehydration is the preferred therapeutic choice. Legitimate medical indications for IV infusions are well documented and are most commonly associated with medical emergencies (emergency TUE), in-patient care, surgery, or clinical investigations for diagnostic purposes.

The source also says that USADA warned fighters that they can indeed detect if an IV has been used. Do you think this will have a major impact on fighters and their weight classes?

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