After Ronda Rousey had beaten Bethe Correia, she learned that she had to do a drug test, and her reaction was priceless. Rousey did not get upset or try to hit anyone, and she was very grateful to take the test because she supports UFC’s anti-doping program.
A drug test after the Ronda Rousey–Bethe Correia fight had an unexpected outcome. On August 1, 2015, the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was packed with mixed martial arts fans to see their local fighter, Bethe Correia, take on Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
It was a very short match because after 30 seconds Rousey won with a KO (punch). The stunning victory prompted Jeff Novitzky, the former federal agent now in charge of UFC’s anti-doping staff to send collectors to get a blood sample.
Novitzky revealed that hundreds of reporters gathered around the hotel where Ronda Rousey was staying to find out if she accepted to take the blood test and were eager to get the result. When Novitzky asked the testers, how did Rousey react? Their answer was baffling. He said:
“‘What was her reaction?.They were like, ‘She couldn’t thank us enough. She said thank you guys so much for coming down here. You traveled all the way from the United States to do this, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’re doing.’”
Novitzky, who is proud to have Rousey as one of the biggest ambassadors for UFC’s new anti-doping program, added:
“That’s really important, that our top athletes are ambassadors because they’re role models not only to the public, but to our other athletes. And when they heard Ronda Rousey out there confirming this is a great program and something good for UFC, I think that not only the public listens, but our other athletes listen.”
Earlier this month, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, published the results of the first round of testing, which took place in June and Rousey, who was the most tested of all athletes, passed with flying colors. According to the test results on the website:
The USADA has conducted 81 tests of 50 UFC fighters to date. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has been screened the most with five tests. Thiago Alves, Bethe Correia and Antonio Silva have been tested four times. Anthony Johnson and Jimi Manuwa were tested three times.
USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said:
“We have had the opportunity to speak with many athletes during this initial program phase, and we have appreciated their passion for protecting clean sport and their dedication to participating in a comprehensive anti-doping program. The first three months have been right on track with the program launch plan, which necessarily included a large emphasis on the vitally important athlete education efforts. Now, with the whereabouts filing process complete, we begin the rollout of the full strategic out-of-competition testing plan.”
What are your thoughts Rousey’s reaction?
