MSAC Praises Jon Jones, Glover Teixeira, & UFC For Their Cooperation With Additional UFC 172 Drug Testing

News broke earlier this week that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira would be undergoing additional testing heading into their pivotal main event at April 26’s UFC 172 from the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

In the wake of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and UFC banning testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT), the issue of drug testing for performance-enhancing substances is no doubt a touchy one in MMA right now. However, Jones and Teixeira have never been pegged as steroid abusers.

But Jones wants to set a good example, and the Maryland State Athletic Commission (MSAC) agrees with him. In a statement issued earlier today to MMAMania.com, the MSAC praised Jones and Teixeira as well as the UFC for their cooperation in the extra testing program:

“”The Maryland State Athletic Commission respects, and maintains, the confidentiality of the out-of-competition random drug testing currently being conducted of professional MMA fighters Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira as they prepare to compete in UFC 172 on April 26, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. Given that one or both of these individuals have commented publicly on such testing, the Maryland State Athletic Commission commends Mr. Jones and Mr. Teixeira, as well as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), for their cooperation in supporting these additional drug testing measures. The Maryland State Athletic Commission believes that such measures are significant and reflect favorably upon the sport of MMA We are looking forward to regulating UFC 172 in Baltimore. To ensure the confidentiality of testing, there will be no further comment from the Maryland State Athletic Commission on this subject at this time.”

It sounds like a whole lot of dancing around the subject and legal jargon, but at the end of the day, increased drug testing, especially for big name fighters scheduled for blockbuster bouts, will go far in eliminating the stigma of widespread steroid use in MMA.

There’s always going to be combatants who look to get any advantage they can get, but that’s going to be hard to come by heading into UFC 172. Jones and Teixeira were required to submit both blood and urine samples.

For his part, the champion was quick to state that he could never accuse Teixeira of using anything on this Wednesday’s “UFC Tonight,” also noting that he hopes the commission tests him again.

Is this a big step towards regulating the massive issue of illegal drugs in MMA, or does it just make those who abuse them bury their transgressions even deeper?

Photo: Kyle Terada for USA TODAY Sports