Read the full statement from USADA CEO
Travis T. Tygart here: https://t.co/3vfuhx5haD pic.twitter.com/MNGgnDN6U6— USADA (@usantidoping)
October 11, 2023
Dana White isn’t too pleased with the way United States Anti-Doping
Agency CEO Travis Tygart handled the news of the Ultimate Fighting
Championship not renewing its contract with the drug-testing
agency.
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On Wednesday, the USADA CEO
released a statement announcing that the testing agency would
cease to serve as the UFC’s anti-doping partner effective beginning
Jan. 1, but that wasn’t all.
Tygart insinuated that the relationship between the promotion and
USADA became “untenable” due to the UFC’s hope that USADA would
excuse Conor McGregor from the six-month testing window, which is
mandatory for any fighter who has been out of the testing pool.
While White had assigned chief business officer Hunter Campbell and
senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff
Novitzky the responsibility of addressing the entire situation on
Thursday in a media scrum, the UFC CEO had a few choice words and
addressed Tygart’s statement recently.
“I summed it up yesterday in one word – scumbag. Listen, it is what
it is. They did what they did.” White told
reporters at the UFC Apex on Friday. “Think about this, they’re
in a business where they’re looking to bring other sports leagues
in. They were with us for eight years. We helped put them on the
map, they helped us build an incredible program. This is how you’re
going to end your relationship with us? Who else would want to do
business with these guys after that? Not me. So it doesn’t matter
to me. We’re moving on, and good luck to him.”
The UFC boss has repeatedly denied the notion that they were hoping
to fast-track McGregor’s return to the Octagon by avoiding the
six-month testing period.
According to Campbell, the UFC’s contract with USADA accounted for
30% of the testing agency’s annual budget. White was asked if that
could be a reason behind Tygart’s recent statements.
“This guy went full Britney Spears and lost his mind,” White said.
“Get ready, you’re probably going to see this guy on Instagram
dancing with knives, probably in the next two weeks or something.
He went nuts. He lost his mind, and it is what it is. It’s
whatever.”
On Thursday, Campbell also announced that the UFC will be
partnering with Drug Free Sport International to run its
anti-doping program in 2024.