Ahead of USADA’s departure, Michael Chandler claims THIS ACTIVITY as the ‘one experience’ he will miss from the anti-doping company

Michael Chandler reminisces about USADA's random doping tests. He appreciated their efforts in maintaining sports integrity as UFC transitions to a new anti-doping partnership with Drug-Free Sports International.

Ahead of USADA’s departure, Michael Chandler claims THIS ACTIVITY as the ‘one experience’ he will miss from the anti-doping company

Michael Chandler on USADA (Image via: Instagram)

The UFC and the USADA acrimoniously split recently. From 2024, Drug-Free Sports International will be the anti-doping partner of the UFC. There are many supporters and detractors of the USADA testing protocol. UFC lightweight Michael Chandler recently shared his experience with the USADA.

Chandler was a recent guest on the podcast Steve-O’s Wild Ride! On the podcast, Chandler said something interesting about USADA. This is what he said.

I always liked it whenever people were at my house. I always liked that. It was cool. Like, "Duck, duck, duck, knock on the door," and I got like a couple of friends over. Like,  'Sorry, guys, I gotta go pee in a cup real quick." I thought it was, it's another cool thing that I'll someday miss. Like, it's, it's another, I think it was a cool thing.
Michael Chandler via Wild Ride podcast
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Chandler liked the surprise visits of the USADA personnel to take blood and urine samples. Chandler now thought it would be the same but with a different company. Nevertheless, the departure of USADA after its role in ensuring the integrity of the sport marks a pivotal shift.

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The UFC-USADA split was nasty as the agency scapegoated Conor McGregor for the split. This angered the UFC and made UFC CBO Hunter Campbell call a press conference to vent his frustration. The new ant-doping program will be under the supervision of former FBI agent George Piro.

Michael Chandler talks about what he didn’t like about the USADA protocol

Michael Chandler is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. Even though he is 2-3 in the UFC, all his fights were exciting. He already has 4 Performance bonuses in the UFC, with a 2021 Fight of the Year award. Chandler was the guest on the recent episode of Stev-O’s podcast.

Michael Chandler on USADA testing protocol
Michael Chandler on USADA testing protocol (Image via: Instagram)

Chandler, on the podcast, talked about the negatives and positives of USADA as an antidoping partner. He believes that he will miss the unannounced visits of the USADA personnel. However, he is not a huge fan of USADA, as he said this about their protocol.

More than anything, it is tough because under USADA, it was so regimented and so scary because you weren't ever sure what was legal, what's not, what's a supplement, what's natural. So there's a lot of red tape and there's a lot of, almost, I feel like you saw it even like with the IV thing, we couldn't take IVs. We couldn't take any over 100 mLs or 100 cc's of vitamin C.

Like Chandler, many felt the USADA testing protocol was not good for MMA. Many find it a better fit for Track and Field. However, there are also fighters like Demetrious Johnson, who believes that stringent testing by USADA is beneficial for the sport.

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