UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is hoping to take a stand against performance enhancing drugs in the sport of MMA.
The number one ranked welterweight tells Sportsnet.ca’s Showdown Joe Ferraro that he plans to subscribe to VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) in hopes of cleaning up cheaters prior to his next fight in November when he defends his title against Johny Hendricks.
“I believe the sport has a problem now,”
“When I first started fighting in mixed martial arts, it didn’t have any money. So, now more money got involved, more ways are there to be cheating to take a shortcut and I believe in VADA testing. I’m up for it and I invite my opponent to do the VADA testing for the championship fight.”
St. Pierre has been accused of cheating in the past and hopes doing this will stop opponents from taking shots at him.
“I invite if possible all the high-profile athletes in the UFC to do the same. I believe it’s a good thing. It’s a bit of a pain in the butt sometimes but I believe to make the sport (better) … I’m ready to do it to set a good example.”
St. Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi also spoke in regards to the VADA testing and hopes St. Pierre’s decision helps make a difference.
“If Georges is champion and he’s clean, nobody has any excuses,” Zahabi said.
