The UK-based grappling promotion Polaris will ban athletes who’re at present serving suspensions for PED utilization.
The UK-based promotion Polaris has launched an official coverage on using PEDs, making it the primary main skilled grappling group to take a public stance on the subject.
Polaris posted the assertion on Instagram.
“We at Polaris consider in striving in direction of the best of a clear sport.
“Polaris started as a gaggle of mates warning to create a brand new type of grappling leisure, and now nearly ten years later has turn into one of many greatest skilled grappling organisations on the earth. To that finish, we really feel a duty to advertise a clear sport to the subsequent technology of athletes.
“Presently, our coverage is that we are going to not invite athletes to the present who’re serving a ban from an official organisation similar to USADA or WADA. This coverage has been unofficially in place for various years however is now official.
“As we discover the prices, alternatives/partnerships, and logistics of implementing our personal testing procedures sooner or later, we encourage different organisations to do the identical as a way to create a stage enjoying subject.”
Briefly, Polaris just isn’t but capable of implement its personal drug testing procedures, however won’t host any athletes at present serving a suspension for PEDs.
In the intervening time, the IBJJF and ONE Championship are the one two promotions that check rivals. The IBJJF usually solely assessments athletes who make it to the rostrum within the black belt divisions at main tournaments. ONE, then again, assessments all of its rivals however has a comparatively small roster of grapplers.
Given the final lack of drug testing throughout grappling, this coverage will nearly solely influence athletes who’re serving USADA suspensions on account of IBJJF testing.
And since Polaris just isn’t but capable of check athletes itself, the coverage doesn’t forestall rivals from utilizing PEDs whereas competing for the group. For instance, Craig Jones – an athlete who has been open about his use of PEDs – was featured in the primary occasion of the newest Polaris occasion.
