IMMAF adopts Anti-Doping Policy ahead of the Amateur World Championships

Ahead of the 2015 IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA at UFC International Fight Week, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation is adopting an anti-doping policy based on the World Anti-Doping Code and Standards.

The IMMAF Anti-Doping rules are based on strict liability, essential for the health and safety of the sport of MMA and its participants. The move is in line with IMMAF’s sporting values, as the organisation works to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

IMMAF’s Members will be offered the best advice to enable them to ensure that their national teams comply with the policy. Declared athlete medications will be reviewed by IMMAF in the run up to the World Championships. Only medications outlined under the World Anti-Doping rules will be permitted.

IMMAF warns athletes to be cautious about use of supplements, which risk contamination and can be subject to poor labelling. Ultimately the responsibility lies with the athlete to ensure, to the best of their knowledge, that they drug free. If prohibited substances are found during drug testing, an athlete will be sanctioned.

IMMAF has appointed internationally renowned expert consultancy, Sporting Integrity Ltd, to advise on and develop its Anti-Doping policy and programme.

CEO Densign White said:

“On behalf of IMMAF, I am proud that we are taking this hugely positive step for the sport of MMA at Amateur level. IMMAF takes the issue of PEDs use immensely seriously as it undermines the integrity of our sport and can unnecessarily put athletes’ health at risk. We believe that a level playing field is critical to fair play in competition, and very much so in combat sports where unfair advantage can detrimentally affect the opponent. Unfortunately there will always be individuals in every sport who opt for short cuts, driven by greed and hunger for glory. I feel passionately that the MMA community should unite to drive the drug cheats out of the sport of MMA.”