UFC 298 Fighters Receive Cautionary Note on Drug Testing and Weight Cutting
The UFC has issued a warning to fighters competing at UFC 298 about drug testing rules related to marijuana. Fighters were informed about the possible fines for testing positive over a certain threshold, according to an email obtained by MMA Fighting. Under California State Athletic Commission rules, any positive drug test over 150 ng/mL would be considered over the limit.
Fighters testing over the threshold will face a $100 fine from the commission. The note emphasized the importance of discontinuing use immediately to avoid exceeding the threshold set by the California commission.
In addition to the drug testing, the UFC also advised fighters that testing would be carried out on weigh-in day or fight day, following standard commission practice for in-competition tests.
The fighters were also informed about the commission’s “10 point plan to combat dangerous weight cutting practices.”
According to the rules, the California commission can conduct remote weight checks on fighters up to 30 days out from the event and leading up to the event thereafter. The commission will also conduct a second weigh-in on the night of the event, and any fighter who puts on more than 10 percent of their body weight plus one pound from weigh-in day to event night MAY be recommended by CSAC to move up in weight class for their next fight.
In other words, the weight cutting program can advise a fighter to move up a weight class based on information received by the commission, but no requirement would be handed down in those cases.
UFC 298 is set to take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Feb. 17, with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his title against Ilia Topuria in the main event.