UFC 189 drug tests come back clean, bizarre Jose Aldo incident detailed

Jose Aldo

A total of seven fighters were drug tested in connection with this past month’s UFC 189. All passed, although there were complications – already well-publicized – in one fighter’s case.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission today released testing documentation in connection with this past month’s pay-per-view event that shows six fighters – Conor McGregor, Robbie Lawler, Rory MacDonald, Jeremy Stephens and Dennis Bermudez – were tested before and after the fight for steroids and human growth hormone in addition to being measured for a blood passport.

All other fighters at UFC 189 were tested via urine for PEDs and drugs of abuse and passed.

The NSAC’s paperwork also includes the negative result from a seventh fighter, UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo, whose test was conducted June 12 after two failed attempts in the previous two days. Chad Mendes, who replaced the UFC featherweight champ after he was injured, was tested six days before the fight and twice on fight-night and passed all exams.

The NSAC’s testing paperwork details the commission’s efforts to have Aldo tested by a third-party collection firm, Drug Free Sport (DFS). A statement from DFS COO Chris Guinty describes the situation DFS tester Ben Mosier ran into when he attempted to collect urine from Aldo in Rio de Janeiro.

According to Guinty’s statement, the NSAC authorized Mosier, a highly experienced sample collector, to perform an out-of-competition test in conjunction with a local doping control officer. Mosier’s Brazilian visa, he wrote, made it clear he would be performing drug tests in the country. A “high-ranking anti-doping official” in Brazil then arranged for the local officer to accompany him, according to the report.

Mosier set up the test for June 11 after he initially was unable to reach Aldo on June 10. According to the statement, Aldo was “very cooperative” during the test. But then an unidentified coach halted the collection until Aldo’s head coach, Andre Pederneiras, arrived at the gym. Pederneiras then contacted the Brazilian Athletic Commission.

From there, the process quickly unraveled. Guinty wrote that an unnamed federal police officer training at the gym confiscated Mosier’s passport, claiming he had an incorrect visa, and “detained” the collector at the gym.

“While detaining Mosier, the federal police officer relayed a story of being detained in the United States when returning to Brazil following a previous fight,” Guinty’s statement read. “The officer claimed to Mosier that he was detained by law enforcement officials for 24 hours and was treated poorly, noting that he was treating Ben Mosier in a more pleasant manner.

“The officer made it a point to advise that this detainment was not revenge for his past detainment, and he had the right to transport Ben to a local detention facility for processing.”

According to the statement, the local doping control officer enlisted by DFS showed up on scene and clashed with Brazilian commission rep Cristiano Sampaio.

“The local Brazilian DCO (doping control officer) … indicated to Ben Mosier that he had done nothing wrong and was authorized to conduct the test. Sampaio refused to let the local DCO (or Mosier) proceed with any testing despite their employment as a local doping control officer. It was reported only a Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission DCO would be allowed to collect the sample.”

By then, Guinty wrote, Aldo’s urine sample had to be discarded because he and Mosier lost contact with it.

MMAjunkie was unable to immediately reach Sampaio for comment on Guinty’s statement.

After more threats from the federal officer, immigration officials showed up and ruled Mosier was permitted to participate in a rescheduled test on June 12.

According to Mosier, Aldo took the test, but not without complications. He arrived at the gym late, reportedly because he was at the U.S. embassy to obtain a visa for UFC 189, and dropped the first sample before giving a second one. Sampaio, who was there to oversee the test, reportedly changed the cutoff for shipping the sample without explanation.

Then, Guinty wrote, “upon completion of the testing event, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (doping collection officer) requested an autograph from Jose Aldo in a magazine he had brought to the collection event and to take a picture with Jose Aldo; both requests were granted.”

For complete coverage of UFC 189, check out the UFC Events section of the site.