NAC stamps down on drug use as they agree to lifetime bans for repeat offenders

When the UFC made the public announcement a few months ago that they had intended to work towards harsher penalties on fighters who tested positive for banned substances, many cynics thought that it would be put on the back-burner.

But the measures are well underway as the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the athletic commission with whom the promotion most often works, has agreed to the proposed stricter punishment on guilty athletes. The issue of drugs, both performance enhancing and recreation, was cast into stark light earlier this year when Anderson Silva tested positive for anabolic steroids Drostanolone and Androstane, Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for cocaine metabolites. Harsher penalties for such offenders were agreed upon at today's NAC hearing and ESPN revealed the new punishments, in terms of both suspension and fines, based on the recidivism rate of each violating fighter. Steroids:

• Three years and 50-70%of purse for first offense
• Four years and 75-100% of purse for second offense
• Lifetime ban and 100% of purse for third offense

Stimulants:

• Two years and 35-45% of purse for first offense
• Three years and 50-60% of purse for second offense
• Lifetime ban and 100% of purse for third offense

Diuretics:

• One year and 30-40% of purse for first offense
• Two years and 40-50% of purse for second offense
• Lifetime ban and 100% of purse for third offense

Sedatives, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, anxiolytics, opiates and cannabis

• 18 months and 30-40% of purse for first offense
• Two years and 40-50% of purse for second offense
• Three years and 60-75% of purse for third offense
• Lifetime ban and 100% of purse for four offense

Another significant update from the hearing comes with the fact that positive tests will now result in the guilty fighter's win being overturned to a loss rather than a no-contest which is the case now. It must be noted that these are simply guidelines and the commission will judge each situation on a case-by-case basis. *These amendments to the NAC's policy on positive tests will come into effect on 1 September.