CM Punk Drug Tested By USADA

Former WWE champion CM Punk has confirmed via way of Twitter that he has now officially been drug tested by the USADA, in what is likely the first of many such tests Punk will undergo as part of his MMA career. Punk let the news slip himself after women's bantamweight title challenger and former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate posted to twitter that she had been woken up early Tuesday morning by the USADA, who were on site to perform a random drug test leading into her UFC 197 clash with new champ Holly Holm. With a fight signed, sealed, and delivered, drug testing for Tate was to be expected. Of course, it's expected of everyone these days, which is why Punk, who has yet to even have his first opponent officially confirmed (though it's possibly Mickey Gall from Dana White's Looking For A Fight web series), was tested as well. In response to Tate's tweet, Punk posted the following: https://twitter.com/CMPunk/status/692015275542200320 While it may be a hassle, these unannounced, random wake-up calls are all part of cleaning up the sport of MMA and the UFC itself, which has gone from a hotbed of drug abuse suspicion to one of the most active anti-PED (performance enhancing drug) organizations in pro sports. Fighters with or without fights booked can expect to be tested multiple times per year, and must advise the USADA, who the UFC opted to bring in to oversee the program, of their whereabouts at all times. Thus far, several fighters have been caught by the enhanced testing program, most recently Yoel Romero, who had been looking at a title shot against middleweight champ Luke Rockhold. Now, he's looking at a lengthy suspension. The program has not been without its flaws: UFC and Pride legend Mirko Cro-Cop was announced as having tested positive, and retired from the sport as a result, only to have the USADA confirm months later that his tests were actually negative. Still, overall, the USADA program has been a success. Punk should have no issues with testing (for all the grief pro wrestlers sometimes take over drug scandals, Punk never really had the stereotypical "look" of someone taking enhancing drugs), so hopefully it's smooth sailing once his opponent his named. That may come at UFC 196 - which, due to injuries to headliners Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum, will now air for free on Fox Sports 1 in February. All that needs to happen is a Gall win, otherwise, it's back to the drawing board for Punk's first dance partner.