Rory MacDonald subjected to two random drug tests ahead of UFC 189 title fight

Rory MacDonald

MONTREAL – UFC 189 is the first event that falls under the new drug testing guidelines of the UFC’s recently announced partnership with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Co-headliner Rory MacDonald is among the first to be subjected to full-scale testing.

MacDonald (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) today told MMAjunkie that in the past three weeks he’s received unannounced visits from drug testers to collect blood and urine samples prior to his July 11 welterweight championship fight with Robbie Lawler (25-10 MMA, 10-4 UFC).

“I’ve been tested twice,” MacDonald said. “Yesterday in the afternoon, and then not last Saturday, but the Saturday before that. (I gave) blood and urine.”

MacDonald said he provided his personal schedule for the weeks leading up to the fight and testers twice arrived at his Montreal apartment to collect samples without any notice.

That type of intrusive random testing will be standard procedure going forward for the more than 550 active fighters currently on the UFC roster. A positive test and first offense can lead to anywhere between a two- and four-year suspension.

MacDonald, who has been in favor of enhanced testing dating back to his VADA-supervised contest with B.J. Penn at UFC on FOX 5 in December 2012, said he’s more than willing to provide out-of-competition tests and believes the new system will begin to rid the sport of cheaters.

“I think it’s a good thing; cheaters need to be punished for what they’re doing,” MacDonald said. “The system that they’re using, it was just so lenient that the guys would cheat anyway and it was not a big deal so they would just keep doing it. This really puts a stop to it, so I’m all for it.”

The 25-year-old was scheduled to fight Hector Lombard at UFC 186 in April before the fight was scratched when Lombard flunked his post-fight test following his UFC 182 bout with Josh Burkman in January.

MacDonald was pulled from the card and granted a title shot against Lawler at UFC 189, which airs on pay-per-view from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“Red King” said he feels no sympathy for Lombard or anyone else who may test positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He’s already happily provided two samples and believes there will be more before fight night arrives.

“It’s pretty cut and dry for me; don’t take illegal substances if you’re going to be a professional athlete,” MacDonald said. “We’re still three and a half weeks out from the fight, so I’m sure there will be more.”

Firas Zahabi, who is MacDonald’s head coach at Tristar Gym in Montreal, echoed his student’s sentiments. Zahabi said he’s pleased to know that proper measures are now in place to ensure MacDonald will enter the octagon at UFC 189 on an evening playing field.

“I’m thrilled; I hope they keep up with the program, I hope they clean up the sport,” Zahabi said. “It’s about safety first, health first; it’s a sport, it’s not all or nothing. We’re not doing this for life or death. It’s a sport and it should be clean.”

For more on UFC 189, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.