 The Doctor is in! Flip Homansky is cracking down on steroids!
Dr. Flip Homansky of the Nevada State Athletic Commission chatted with me a few days back on probably the most important issue in mixed martial arts these days; steroids.
The Doctor is in! Flip Homansky is cracking down on steroids!
Dr. Flip Homansky of the Nevada State Athletic Commission chatted with me a few days back on probably the most important issue in mixed martial arts these days; steroids. Flip candidly explained to me the procedures the Commission will undergo to test the combatants in every MMA event to hit the sands of Nevada. Homansky, the rest of the NSAC crew and with the much-needed support and help from the WFA’s John Lewis, is just beginning to tread the waters of intense steroid testing for all fighters involved in every MMA event in the Silver State. Here is what the good doctor had to say: Hey Flip, I’ve heard that Nevada State Athletic Commission, with a ton of support from John Lewis, will begin strenuous testing for mixed martial artists. What’s the full story?
Yes. To give you some background, for years we’ve intermittently spot-checked, for our own information, boxers. Starting last November, we’ve spot-checked boxers and mixed martial artists for steroids. Our policy is that come January 1st, 2003, we will start sanctioning those who are found positive for steroids. That is suspensions and fines and there will be shows where we check everyone in mixed martial arts. Right now, we are just doing the champions and spot-checking people at random. Is there a specific type of steroids that you are testing for?
Any anabolic steroids. If and when a fighter does test positive, how long will he be banned for?
Well, that will depend. It will be up to the Commission. It varies in certain situations right now. Somebody comes up with marijuana, sometimes it’s three months and if they do it again, it might be six months. But if somebody comes up with cocaine, it could be anywhere from six months to a year, or amphetamines. So it will up to the Commission on what to do about anabolic steroids. What is the reasoning behind having the surge in steroid testing on January 1st? Why not right now?
We were going to start doing it on June 1st of this year and one of the reasons why we didn’t was because it was very hard to get the information out to the fighters. We tried going through some of the different promoters, but it didn’t work as well as it should have. Some of the promoters promised to get some of the information out and they didn’t. The main reason is that some forms of steroids can last in your system for six months. So what we finally decided was to get all of the information out so nobody can say they didn’t know it was coming. Plus, we have given them enough time so that no one can say to us, ’Well, I knew about this and I stopped using those steroids for this fight, but they’re left in my system from a long time ago.’ We don’t want a lot of hearings. We don’t want there to be a lot of problems for this. We want people to not be using anabolic steroids. So, the tack we’re taking is trying to educate now, giving people plenty of time to stop and then we’ll bring a big stick out if we need to. Do you feel this steroid testing is more necessary in mixed martial arts than in boxing?
As time goes on, I see that it is imperative that we do this. It is a different sport than boxing. What happened with Josh Barnett?He tested positive for anabolic steroids and from there, what else exactly happened?
Yes. There have been two continuances on the hearings for Josh and he is now set to go before the Commission on July 26th, which is Friday. There will be some conclusion at that time for sure. Will you be testing for steroids before or after the events?
Well, it really doesn’t matter on something like that because you’re not going to get the results back by the time of the fight, so on everything, we test right after the fight. So, that way, it precludes anybody from doing anything, not in terms of steroids but in terms of stimulants, from the testing to the fight. So, right after the fight and before the press conference, they’re taken back by one of the inspectors and that’s when they urinate. John Lewis brought this new testing scheme to my attention. How much of a key role is he playing in the testing process?
John’s been very supportive. He wants to get this information out to his fighters, he knows what’s coming and he wants his cards to be clean. We are glad to have John helping us a great deal. Let me tell you: I’ll give you an example in weight lifting. In power lifting and in bodybuilding, you have two different competitions. You have clean competitions and dirty competitions, and this now includes mixed martial arts. In the State of Nevada, the competitions will be clean. If some fighters want to continue to do steroids, they won’t be doing it in Nevada. You also mentioned about fining the fighters. How much will the fines be and will it depend on whether it’s a championship fight or not?
I can tell you that we have fined boxers, depending on their purses, anywhere from $500 to $250,000 so it’s variable. And all of this will become effective on January 1st?
Right. Now, it’s illegal right now. Don’t get me wrong. We’re testing right now, it’s illegal and we don’t want anyone to do it. Rick Roufus was found and he had to come before the Commission. He knows he cannot fight again anywhere in the world until his urine is clean and tested by us and he gets counseling. Another thing I want to get out is the licensure for Pride. They had to agree to uphold any suspensions from the State of Nevada, so if someone is suspended by us, Pride can’t use them in Japan. We’re serious about this. I think some of these mixed martial artists got the idea that they don’t need to fight in Nevada, but it won’t just be here. If UFC has a fight in New Jersey or England, or if Pride has a fight in Japan, they will not use someone who is under suspension in Nevada. Once people sit down and start thinking about this, they’ll have to decide one of two things; 1) That I’m going to be clean and fight in Nevada and in mixed martial arts or 2) That I’m not and I’ll have to look for another line of work. What other states, right now, are about to follow your trend?
They all will. In the United States, I know they all will. Ok, Flip, I know you are a busy guy. Thanks for the interview.
Thank you! I appreciate your time. Terrific!
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