Report details incredibly bizarre Jose Aldo drug test incident before UFC 189

This is truly bizarre.

The drug test results from UFC 189 are in and all fighters' results came back clean. Conor McGregor, Robbie Lawler, Rory MacDonald, Jeremy Stephens and Dennis Bermudez had their urine and blood tested before and after their respective fights for steroids and growth hormones. All other fighters on the card passed urine tests for PEDs and diuretics. Chad Mendes, who was tested six days before the main event also tested negative for any banned substances. The Nevada State Athletic Comission's (NSAC) paperwork also includes the negative result from Jose Aldo. A statement from Drug Free Sport COO Chris Guinty was also provided and it detailed the bizarre story behind Aldo's first test which was reportedly discarded in Rio. According to the statement, the NSAC authorized Ben Mosier, an experienced sample collector, to perform an out-of-competition test on the UFC featherweight champ in conjunction with a local doping control officer. Mosier’s Brazilian visa made it clear he was there to perform drug tests, and a “high-ranking anti-doping official” in the country then arranged for the local officer to accompany him, so the report claims. Mosier was initially unable to get a hold of Aldo on June 10th, but set up the test for June 11th. The statement explains that Aldo was “very cooperative” during the test, but an unidentified coach called the testing to a halt until head coach Andre Pederneiras arrived at the gym. Upon arrival, Pederneiras contacted the Brazilian Athletic Commission. The report details how an unnamed federal police officer training at the gym then confiscated the tester’s passport, claiming he did not have the correct visa, and “detained” the collector at the gym. Below is a passage from the statement as transcribed by MMA Junkie.

“While detaining Mosier, the federal police officer relayed a story of being detained in the United States when returning to Brazil following a previous fight. The officer claimed to Mosier that he was detained by law enforcement officials for 24 hours and was treated poorly, noting that he was treating Ben Mosier in a more pleasant manner." “The officer made it a point to advise that this detainment was not revenge for his past detainment, and he had the right to transport Ben to a local detention facility for processing.”

According to the statement, the local doping control officer enlisted by Drug Free Sport arrived on the scene and clashed with Brazilian commission representative Cristiano Sampaio.

“The local Brazilian DCO (doping control officer) … indicated to Ben Mosier that he had done nothing wrong and was authorized to conduct the test. Sampaio refused to let the local DCO (or Mosier) proceed with any testing despite their employment as a local doping control officer. It was reported only a Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission DCO would be allowed to collect the sample.”

At that stage, the statement claims that the sample must have been discarded as the tester had lost contact with it. The federal officer issued him with more threats, immigration officials showed up and ruled that Mosier was allowed to participate in a rescheduled test the following day. Aldo took the test, but not without complications, arriving at the gym late, reportedly because he was coming from the U.S. embassy to obtain a visa for UFC 189. He dropped the first sample in before giving a second one. According to the statement,

“upon completion of the testing event, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (doping collection officer) requested an autograph from Jose Aldo in a magazine he had brought to the collection event and to take a picture with Jose Aldo; both requests were granted.”

Hat-tip to MMA Junkie