Sean Strickland, the UFC middleweight champion, recently expressed strong opinions on the UFC’s approach to dealing with steroid users. Known for frequently drawing attention through controversial statements, Strickland has never been hesitant to express polarizing views, whether discussing his alleged ties to neo-Nazis in his youth or openly stating intentions to cause harm. The 32-year-old American proposed a lifetime ban for UFC fighters who fail a drug test, citing that if the UFC or athletic commissions truly cared about the issue, it would already be the standard practice. He went on to claim that most of the roster would agree with his proposal.
Since June 2015, the UFC had enlisted the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) to deter athletes from using banned performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs)/steroids. Violating a USADA-administered drug test or deliberately providing false information would result in penalties such as suspension and/or fines. However, as of the beginning of this year, UFC fighters are no longer monitored by USADA due to a disagreement over the drug testing of former UFC champion Conor McGregor. Instead, the UFC confirmed that Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) would replace USADA in overseeing its drug testing protocol.
In another instance of his outspokenness, Strickland shared his views on former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s alleged association with Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier. Strickland highlighted the lack of consequences for powerful figures involved in criminal activities like Epstein and called for “bringing back the rope” as punishment. The focus on Clinton’s purported connection to Epstein arose from the recent public release of court records from a 2015 defamation lawsuit initiated by Virginia Giuffre against the financier and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Giuffre accused Epstein and Maxwell of trafficking her while she was a minor, and various court documents exposing Epstein associates were recently made public. Notable names found in these documents include figures linked to misconduct and sexual allegations, such as Clinton, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, and David Copperfield.
