Cannabis is a prohibited substance in-competition in most combat sports jurisdictions, but only over a certain threshold. Only if an athlete tests positive for more than 150 ng/ml of cannabis in a sample collected in-competition will that athlete be sanctioned by the regulatory body.
Illinois State Athletic Commission (ISAC) has a zero-tolerance policy for banned substances, including marijuana. There is no such threshold for cannabis, so if a fighter tests positive for even a small amount of the drug he or she can be suspended, fined and possibly have a win overturned.
Illinois does allow for therapuetic use exemptions (TUE) for cannabis. A request for a TUE by an athlete who uses cannabis medicinally must be made in writing. Therules for TUEs in Illinois are steep, though. An athlete would have to “experience a significant impairment to health if the prohibited substance were to be withheld.”
MMA Weekly reported Thursday that the UFC has already sent out a memo to fighters competing at UFC 225 in Chicago on June 9 about the ISAC regulations. That information would be of particular note to athletes competing Saturday at Bellator 198in Rosemont, Ill., too.
Illinois zero-tolerance policy on marijuana could affect UFC 225, Bellator 198 fighters
This shouldn't have to be said but I feel it's important.
@MMAHAWK
@sparkuri and any other members who may be in Illinois for this fight or any other choosing to break the law by doing marijuana while representing TMMAC (wearing one of our hats, shorts, hoodies, gi etc which can be found here TMMAC Official Store ) will be permabanned with the quickness. This will be your one and only warning on the matter.
