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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 16: UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman interacts with the media during the UFC 246 Ultimate Media Day at UFC APEX on January 16, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC | Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 16: UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman interacts with the media during the UFC 246 Ultimate Media Day at UFC APEX on January 16, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC | Getty Images)
As UFC 268 is just hours away and fans are excited to know more about their favorite fighters. Chiefly, Kamaru Usman versus Colby Covington is one of the most awaited title fights of the year.
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Covington has openly accused Kamaru Usman of taking performance-enhancing substances to help him achieve a higher level of performance heading into their rematch. He had challenged Usman to take medical tests. Some UFC fans also believe that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is taking some prohibited extra help.
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 01: UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman poses on stage during the UFC 245 press conference at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden on November 1, 2019 in New York, New York. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
However, it seems that Usman believes in shutting down his haters not just with words, but with concrete results too. He took the mandatory USADA tests ahead of his UFC 268 fight with Covington and passed them.
Kamaru Usman passes 50 USADA tests
Kamaru Usman has taken 50 USADA tests that have come back clean to this day. Aaron Bronsteter wrote on Twitter, “Kamaru Usman was awarded a jacket from USADA tonight for 50 clean tests.”
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 14: Kamaru Usman of Nigeria enters the octagon during the UFC 245 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC’s Senior Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitzky gave Usman a jacket for this achievement. He said, “I don’t think there’s another professional athlete in any sport that has that validation behind it as Kamaru has with our program.”
He further said, “Those 50 plus tests not only test for all the prohibited substance but USADA keeps running biological passport on everybody. So, they’re looking at certain urine and blood markers over time to make sure they don’t get out of wack. Again, there’s not another professional athlete on the planet that has that behind them as Kamaru does.”
Kamaru Usman was awarded a jacket from USADA tonight for 50 clean tests.
He is the first athlete to achieve 50 clean tests who started competing in the UFC after the anti-doping program was already implemented. pic.twitter.com/XGjKlGdixZ
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 5, 2021
Usman said, “To have the validation of USADA, it feels amazing.”
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Usman seemed extremely happy to receive this appreciation. Finally, all accusations of him being juiced up can be laid to rest.
Being accused of flouting rules and using prohibited substances can be heartbreaking for any athlete on Usman’s level. While his skills and sheer strength may have caused people to think that he was on medications, the Nigerian fighter can take these accusations as compliments.
It is great that Usman cleared up the air before his UFC 268 fight against Colby Covington. This will make sure that their fight is fair.
What do you think about Kamaru Usman’s 50 clean USADA tests? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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