CM Punk, Nick Diaz, Gustafsson among those recently USADA tested
Inactive fighters like Nick Diaz and Alexander Gustafsson are still being tested by USADA.
A recently published list has shown USADA are still testing a handful of inactive fighters, including those not fighting as long as six years, and are surprisingly still under a UFC contract.
Aaron Bronsteter of TSN released the list on Friday. The list includes fighters such as former WWE star CM Punk, T.J. Dillashaw who is currently suspended by USADA, and former welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz. The full list of recently tested inactive fighters is as follows.
- CM Punk - welterweight, last fought June 2018
- T.J. Dillashaw - bantamweight, last fought January 2018.
- Nick Diaz - welterweight, last fought January 2015.
- Alexander Gustafsson - light heavyweight, announced retirement June 2019.
- John Hathaway - welterweight, last fought March 2014.
- Mike Jackson - welterweight, last fought June 2018.
- William Knight - light heavyweight, yet to make UFC debut.
Diaz, 36, has not fought since losing a unanimous decision to Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in January 2015. That result was eventually overturned to a no contest, when Silva tested positive for anaoblic steroids and Diaz tested positive for marijuana. Despite being linked with a return several times during his five years away from the cage, a comeback fight has never been finalised for the fan favourite Diaz.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Dillashaw was suspended for two years by USADA after he tested positive for EPO following his flyweight title fight with Henry Cejudo. Dillashaw is eligible to reutrn in January 2021. People already under USADA suspension are normally still tested during that duration.
Three-time light heavyweight title challenger Gustafsson announced his retirement from MMA last year after his loss to Anthony Smith. He might be in a similar situation as Urijah Faber, who previously retired but remained in the training pool to make it easier to return if a good opportunity presented itself.