ADCC head organizer Mo Jassim recently sat down for an interview with veteran MMA journalist Luke Thomas and he discussed the promotion’s approach to testing for PEDs, or lack thereof. It’s never been a secret that there is no drug testing at ADCC events and a number of high level competitors have been open about their use of various substances too. While this was once par for the course for every grappling promotion, and still is for almost all of them, the IBJJF has decided to introduce testing for winners of the IBJJF World Championship. Jassim actually referenced their approach specifically too:
“My issue with the IBJJF testing models, apparently they only test the champions. So how do you know that the other podium people aren’t on this stuff? Generally speaking, ADCC has never drug tested. It’s not even on my radar. And I understand it, you know? A lot of people get upset about it and I understand where they’re coming from. But for me, do I think that some of these athletes are on? Yeah, I do. I mean, you can see these body transformations when it comes to ADCC worlds. And I think it’s a very valid criticism. But for me, it’s not on the top of my list. I do think people have ways of passing these tests.”
He’s not wrong either, as there are definitely multiple competitors in every drug-tested sport who are able to get away with using prohibited substances. Even in sports and events with incredible stringent procedures like the Olympics, athletes have always been able to evade detection. This isn’t the only reason that ADCC has chosen not to test though, and Mo Jassim also elaborated on the cost of having PEDs testing in place:
“It’s very costly to do drug testing. I saw the UFC posted it. I think they were paying nearly $1,000 a test. In my opinion, the only effective way to drug test is random drug testing when it’s unannounced or they show up to your house or gym. For me to go and do that for 105 athletes across the world, that would be very cost prohibitive and be a nightmare headache for me.”
It’s easy to see why this would be cost-prohibitive of course, as it would cost over $100,000 just to do a single round of testing for all of the competitors. Mo Jassim was very realistic about the results of not having PEDs testing at ADCC though:
“I understand why people don’t like it, but it is what it is. It’s not high on my list. Do I think it’s prevalent in the sport? I’d say a pretty good percentage of people probably are taking TRT to be honest.”
The interview with Mo Jassim where he discusses PEDs testing in ADCC was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Luke Thomas:
