NSAC Pushes Back Start For Harsh Drug Penalties
By Edward Chaykovsky
A month ago, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced they were taking a firm stand against illegal drug use by boxers and mixed martial arts competitors. Over the last few months, numbers fighters and MMA combatants have been popped for various forms of illegal drugs, mostly in connection with events which took place in Las Vegas. The NSAC has rolled out, and approved, a very strict set of guidelines and harsh penalties for all forms of drug offenses.
These new rules were scheduled to go in effect on September 1st, but now the NSAC is pushing back start date for a few months.
According to NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar, several other steps must be taken.
He told the Las Vegas Review Journal that a workshop open to the public must be held to explain the changes and then the entire package must go to the legislative council ensure that it doesn’t conflict with state law. Then a public hearing must be held, notice of which must be posted in every Nevada library. And then eventually the legislative council has to sign off on the changes.
“It’s disappointing that it’s taking this long,” Aguilar said. “We were hoping to get it done quickly. But that’s the way government works. In the long run, however, it’s going to be worth it once it gets approved.”
BELOW ARE THE NEW PENALTIES
Sedatives, Muscle Relaxants, Sleep Aids, Anxiolytics, Opates, Cannabis:
1st offense: 18 months, 30-40% of purse
2nd offense: 2 years, 40-50% of purse
3rd offense: 4 years, 60-75% of purse
4th offense: Lifetime ban, 100% of purse
Diuretics Used To Cut Weight
1st offense: 12 months, 30-40% of purse
2nd offense: 2 years, 40-50% of purse
3rd offense: Lifetime ban, 100% of purse
Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, etc)
1st offense: 2 years, 35-45% of purse
2nd offense: 3 years, 50-60% of purse
3rd offense: Lifetime ban, 100% of purse
Anabolic Steroids (testosterone, HGH)
1st offense: 3 years, 50-70% of purse
2nd offense: 4 years, 75-100% of purse
3rd offense: Lifetime ban, 100% of purse
Avoiding Testing/Detection/Urine sample not of human origin or not of tested athlete, adulterants, drugs (incl. diuretics) used as masking agents
1st offense: 4 years, 50% of purse
2nd offense: lifetime ban, 100% of purse
