B.J. Penn says not being in UFC 152 main event made him more comfortable with VADA testing

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I just submitted my paperwork for VADA and I'm ready to enter the program. VADA has not changed their standards for me, my test results will be released as they become available to the UFC, commission and the ABC.

I feel much more comfortable with the VADA testing standards knowing that I will not be the main attraction at UFC 152. The responsibility of being a main event fighter was such that I did not want to jeopardize my employer's promotion of the event. The UFC has put together a great main and co-main event and I am happy to be a part of the card and comply with the VADA testing standards."

-B.J. Penn took to Twitter to explain why he ultimately decided to go ahead with VADA drug testing prior to his UFC 152 bout with Rory MacDonald.

Penick's Analysis: From a business perspective, I can understand why Penn was concerned about going with the random drug testing route. The UFC certainly doesn't want a fight to be canceled in short order because someone failed a drug test, and it's one of the reasons they haven't actively implemented more stringent drug testing out of competition. At the same time, Penn's entire stance has been to fight clean and make sure his opponent is doing the same, and what he was suggesting initially with VADA as far as withholding results would have left it possible for he or MacDonald to fight while on something. That's against the point of drug testing. But he's gone back on that, and they'll go forward with VADA. Hopefully neither of them has anything to be worried about, and the fight goes through as planned.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13959.shtml

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