10 Improvements UFC Has To Make
4. Higher Level Of Security Surrounding Drug Tests/USADA
This particular improvement has been necessary for quite some time and Nate Diaz's recent palaver - regarding his 'failed' drug test at UFC 244 - has only hammered home the need for UFC to keep these 'positive' USADA findings under wraps until they are 100% certain the fighter is in the wrong.
Obviously, the company is entitled to release whatever information they feel needs to be made public, but so often we find that these initial sentences are shortened or even reversed - which only makes the promotion look foolish for committing to the decision in the first place.
In order to avoid any more egg finding its way onto their faces, UFC need to ensure that USADA only disclose suspicious results if they are completely confident in their analysis.
Of course, this is fairly difficult, as USADA are constantly redefining what substances are in fact billed as an offense. But, that's what you get when you decided to leave all your company's drug screening responsibilities in the hands of a separate entity.
Dana White still has full faith in the organization and will stick with them in order to keep up the company's zero tolerance doping image, yet an increase in control over what information is divulged by USADA would surely keep those questioning the promotion's professionalism at bay and help avoid any more unwanted headlines.