Fighting back
Anyone who read the statement from Chris Guinty, Chief Operating Officer of Drug Free Sport, regarding the controversial drugs test Jose Aldo provided in Brazil one month prior to UFC 189 would have been more than a little dismayed a truly bizarre story emerged.
Guinty’s version of events saw Ben Mosier, an experienced sample collector, had his passport confiscated by an unnamed federal police officer, who just happened to be training at Aldo’s gym, who claimed that Mosier had an incorrect visa.
A first sample from Aldo was discarded because both Mosier and the local tester who was accompanying him had lost contact with it.
A second test was eventually taken a day later in conjunction with a tester from the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission, who then posed for pictures with Aldo and asked for his autograph.
It all seemed very strange and not the kind of carry on that would fill you with confidence.
But the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) has come out fighting in response to Guinty’s comments.
They’ve released the following statement which says that they have “no intention of detailing the whole incident” because they don’t want to damage the credibility of Guinty or Drug Free Sport which, they claim, would be “severely compromised if all the facts were exposed”.
CABMMA has no intention on detailing the whole incident as Drug Free Sport try to do so in its statement, as we feel that their image and credibility can be severely compromised if all facts were exposed.
Our entity does not agree with such unprofessionalism and the sport will not benefit from these comments.
Regarding the visa and immigration problem Mr. Ben Mosier had, we suggest that Drug Free Sport should immediately contact the Federal Police in Brazil to discuss this issue since CABMMA had no jurisdiction and competence to interfere in such matter.
As to the process itself, we were contacted by Mr. Chris Guinty (Drug Free Sport) and Executive Director Mr. Bob Bennett (NAC) on Thursday morning which both asked me personally by phone for CABMMA to promptly collect the athlete’s anti-doping test.
CABMMA understands, that based on the circumstances, the process was done in the best and most appropriate way possible and believes that its conduct was ethical, safe and respectful to all parties involved.
Finally, it is important to state that CABMMA is working along and committed to USADA and ABCD , WADA-accredited agencies, to avoid incidents as these and guarantee golden standards for in- and out-of-competition collection processes, implementing in Brazil a structured and secure anti-doping policy for the sport of MMA.
