Penn and MacDonald to undergo drug testing in advance of UFC 152

According to a statement by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) BJ Penn and Rory MacDonald have both signed up for random drug testing in advance of their bout at UFC 152 on September 22 in Toronto. This testing is a full spectrum testing of blood and urine to be conducted over the next eight weeks.

According to VADA: “BJ Penn has enrolled in the VADA  program and will undergo 8 weeks of random blood and urine testing for his UFC 152 bout taking place in Toronto, Canada on September 22, 2012. He has agreed that all test results will be immediately forwarded to the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions), the Ontario Athletic Commission (Office of the Athletics Commissioner), and the UFC.”

VADA has approached other fighters in the past including UFC 148 competitor Cung Le, and first offered the testing to Penn a few weeks ago. Now Penn has agreed and signed off on the testing procedures. Additionally, MacDonald has agreed to the testing; this testing is independent of the UFC.

This is the first time that UFC fighters have agreed to undergo the VADA testing process.

VADA works with boxers and mixed martial arts fighters to promote clean competition, and will be testing for  drugs and substances including any performance enhancing drugs such as steroids, diuretics or masking agents used to cover up usage, and blood doping to name a few.