Dana White’s random drug-testing before ‘golden goose’ fight revealed: “Never done that before”
Rampage Jackson’s size difference in the off-season forced UFC CEO Dana White to individually test him for steroids back in the day.
Follow Us
Dana White once suspected Rampage Jackson of steroid use (via Imago)
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson had a successful and entertaining career in the sport of MMA. The American fighter gave six years of his prime to the UFC and fought some of the best light heavyweights of that time. On top of that, his relationship with Dana White was quite interesting as well.
Jackson in his prime was known for being unstoppable and ran through legends such as Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, etc. He was in peak shape and looked like a bodybuilder model. In a recent interview, Rampage shared an instance when Dana White was concerned about him using steroids.
Dana saw me somewhere…and off-season I was heavier and he was like, ‘Man, you blow up after your fights. Are you on steroids?’ He said, ’Only people on steroids, they blow up after the fight.’ He had me tested…He’s never done that before and never done that since.
Rampage Jackson via JAXXON Podcast
The incident took place just before Jackson’s title fight with Forrest Griffin where he lost via unanimous decision. The discussion took place in the podcast where Griffin was the guest and Jackson asked him about his relationship with White. According to the legend, Griffin was White’s ‘golden goose,’ which caused concern to White.
Griffin’s TUF 1 Finale fight with Stephan Bonnar brought mainstream attention, helping the UFC gain widespread popularity. His gritty, exciting fighting style attracted fans, proving MMA’s appeal and driving UFC’s rapid growth during the mid-2000s. This might be the reason why White made sure to test Rampage Jackson for steroids.
Dana White talks about the ugly split with USADA
In 2023, UFC and USADA ended their partnership after nearly a decade, citing disagreements over the handling of drug-testing policies. USADA criticized the UFC’s decision to reintroduce Conor McGregor without proper protocols, straining the relationship beyond repair. The UFC claimed USADA’s public statements about McGregor were unprofessional and undermined the sport’s integrity and trust.
This split left the UFC seeking a new anti-doping partner while fans questioned the future of clean competition. Finally, everything worked out and UFC managed to bring back its strict regulations. However, the whole saga left Dana White frustrated over USADA.
Let me just start with this: It wasn’t an announcement. It was a dirty move by them.
Dana White via Pat McAfee Show
The UFC replaced USADA with Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) in 2024. Drug-Free Sport International (DFSI) handles sample collection. CSAD is independent, with testing by SMRTL, a WADA-accredited lab. The program maintains strict protocols for fair, clean competition over all the events for fighters in the UFC. So far, they have yet to find any guilty parties.
Related: Rampage Jackson reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov blocked him for pronouncing name as ‘Khabib N***erunoff’
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)