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10th Jan 2016

UFC superstars top list of most tested athletes by USADA in 2015

No real surprises

Ben Kiely

Some interesting details have emerged from the first six months of the UFC’s new drug testing program.

The good folks over at MMAJunkie have acquired some statistics on the first half year.

Perhaps the most notable talking point from the first six months is the number of tests conducted. USADA CEO Travis Tygart stated that there would be a minimum of 2,750 tests conducted per year, but unless they pick up the pace considerably, they’re going to fall well short of this mark.

Only 353 tests were conducted between July 1 and the end of the year – considerably less than the 1,375 tests required to be on pace for Tygart’s promise.

tygart

The report also revealed the most tested athletes in 2015, a table topped by three fighters who were involved in arguably the two highest profile fights of the year.

Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo and Ronda Rousey were all tested eight times throughout the period while the woman who derailed Rousey’s hype train, Holly Holm, was just behind with seven tests.

These were the top 10 most tested UFC fighters under the USADA programme:

  • Jose Aldo – 8
  • Conor McGregor – 8
  • Ronda Rousey – 8
  • Antonio Silva – 7
  • Dan Henderson – 7
  • Holly Holm – 7
  • Vitor Belfort – 6
  • Rafael dos Anjos – 6
  • Luke Rockhold – 6
  • Yoel Romero – 6