NSAC triples allowed marijuana metabolite levels

[IamInuit]

Its about time but they should take it right off the list or add downers.

Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, has revealed that the NSAC will be tripling the levels of marijuana metabolites allowed when drug testing mixed martial artists.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has relaxed the numbers on marijuana limits that a fighter can have in their pre- or post-fight drug testing samples.

Recently the World Anti-Doping Agency made the decision to raise its limits on marijuana levels in urine samples from 50 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL.

NSAC has now followed suit, as first reported by Middle Easy.

“This morning I received an email from Keith Kizer letting me know that as of yesterday, the NSAC has officially raised the testing threshold of marijuana metabolites from 50 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL,” writes site editor Zeus.

“That represents a 300% increase, which means you can have 3x more marijuana metabolites in your system before it's a positive test. something unprecedented in the industry.”

NSAC’s action has been on the cards for some time. There has been impassioned debate about marijuana use among professional fighters, who tend to prefer marijuana to alcohol because of the weigh-gaining effects of beer consumption.

In April we witnessed the frankly tragic situation of Pat Healy testing positive at the 50ng/mL level and being forced to forfeit the two bonuses he won for his fight with Jim Miller.

That cost him $130,000, a shocking sum when one considers marijuana is not a performance enhancing substance and Healy had consumed it weeks before the fight.

The UFC’s own executive responsible for regulatory affairs, Marc Ratner, has also previously commented on the wider acceptability of marijuana use in the modern day.

“States are legalizing marijuana and it's becoming more and more of a problem with fighters testing positive and the metabolites,” he said earlier this year.

“Right now I just cannot believe that a performance enhancing drug and marijuana can be treated the same. It just doesn't make sense to the world anymore and it's something that has to be brought up.

[p4pking]

Shouldn't even test for it at all, but nice to see they are going in that direction I guess.

[IamInuit]

Shouldn't even test for it at all, but nice to see they are going in that direction I guess.

Yeah you know as an x chronic and now moderate user I just cant see any advantage of smoking a gagger before a fight. Those who have tested positive probably had in their system from a day or days prior so even the effects are gone.

[p4pking]

Shouldn't even test for it at all, but nice to see they are going in that direction I guess.

Yeah you know as an x chronic and now moderate user I just cant see any advantage of smoking a gagger before a fight. Those who have tested positive probably had in their system from a day or days prior so even the effects are gone.

I think it's pretty certain that the stuff doesn't lend itself to combat If a fighter wants to have a toke on off nights in training weeks before a fight or whatever instead of drinking etc, who the hell cares.

[ElTerribleMorales]

Chavez Jr and Nick Diaz are having a party somewhere lol

[IamInuit]

Chavez Jr and Nick Diaz are having a party somewhere lol

No doubt. Apparently lots of ufc guys like their erb. I dont follow the sport but I'm pretty sure they took it right off the list.

[beenKOed]

I don't like the change, it's a move in the wrong direction, in my opinion. Here's what I see.

We have a problem, my fighter has a hard time making weight. Not a problem, lets add some more weight divisions.

We have a problem, my fighter can make weight but he's so dehydrated he can't last more than a few rounds. Not a problem, lets get rid of the same day weigh-in that way he has time to rehydrate.

We have a problem, my fighter's testosterone levels are low for his age. Not a problem, let's get him on a Testosterone Replacement Therapy program.

We have a problem, my fighter likes his weed and finds it hard to follow the rules, and when he gets caught it costs him money. Not a problem, since marijuana isn't performance enhancing lets triple the test levels. We aren't lifting the ban, we're just fixing things things so we can ignore the tests. Now everybody will be happy, especially those fighters who can't follow the rules.

That's what I see.

[IamInuit]

I don't like the change, it's a move in the wrong direction, in my opinion. Here's what I see.

We have a problem, my fighter has a hard time making weight. Not a problem, lets add some more weight divisions.

We have a problem, my fighter can make weight but he's so dehydrated he can't last more than a few rounds. Not a problem, lets get rid of the same day weigh-in that way he has time to rehydrate.

We have a problem, my fighter's testosterone levels are low for his age. Not a problem, let's get him on a Testosterone Replacement Therapy program.

We have a problem, my fighter likes his weed and finds it hard to follow the rules, and when he gets caught it costs him money. Not a problem, since marijuana isn't performance enhancing lets triple the test levels. We aren't lifting the ban, we're just fixing things things so we can ignore the tests. Now everybody will be happy, especially those fighters who can't follow the rules.

That's what I see.

It would make sense if weed was actually a performance enhancer. I mean having it on this list makes about as much sense as banning potatoes.

[beenKOed]

I don't like the change, it's a move in the wrong direction, in my opinion. Here's what I see.

We have a problem, my fighter has a hard time making weight. Not a problem, lets add some more weight divisions.

We have a problem, my fighter can make weight but he's so dehydrated he can't last more than a few rounds. Not a problem, lets get rid of the same day weigh-in that way he has time to rehydrate.

We have a problem, my fighter's testosterone levels are low for his age. Not a problem, let's get him on a Testosterone Replacement Therapy program.

We have a problem, my fighter likes his weed and finds it hard to follow the rules, and when he gets caught it costs him money. Not a problem, since marijuana isn't performance enhancing lets triple the test levels. We aren't lifting the ban, we're just fixing things things so we can ignore the tests. Now everybody will be happy, especially those fighters who can't follow the rules.

That's what I see.

It would make sense if weed was actually a performance enhancer. I mean having it on this list makes about as much sense as banning potatoes.

I'm not so much down on weed as I am down on the permissive attitude toward athletes and celebs. I know Mary Jane well. I've been around it plenty, I once considered knocking my brother in law on his ass because he was using my brand new blender to mix up some marijuana, stems and all, the asshole. I always preferred hash, not so harsh. I haven't used in years and years but can't see the harm in marijuana.
Potatoes do belong to the nightshade family, no they are not a performance enhancer.

[Beanflicker]

I think that's great news.

The only thing the commision should be doing is busting guys for fighting under the influence of drugs. They shouldn't concern themselves if somebody used an illegal, non-PED substance weeks or months before the fight. Who gives a fuck.

With marijuana, althought people point out it isn't a PED, I think it comes down to liability issues due to marijuana's potent pain killing ability. Guys should go into a fight 100% sober and in full sound mental capacity.