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Study Finds Almost Half Of All MMA Fighters Use Marijuana

Study Finds Almost Half Of All MMA Fighters Use Marijuana

Interesting.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

A study has found that almost half of MMA fighters currently use marijuana for either recovery or recreational purposes.

The Athletic recently conducted the 'wide-ranging' survey with 170 professional MMA fighters.

It confirmed that 45.9 percent of fighters admitted to using marijuana for either recovery or recreational purposes during their career, while another 4.7 percent regularly used marijuana in the past, but stopped.

In addition to the above findings, a total of 76.5 percent of fighters involved in the survey said they used CBD products as the debate as to whether it should be allowed or not continues.

One man who isn't surprised by the results is UFC's Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitzky.

The 52-year-old recently claimed that WADA should remove marijuana from the prohibited list and speaking to The Athletic, he confirmed the numbers were indeed accurate.

"I think that sounds pretty accurate," he said.

"I've never polled our roster - it's all anecdotal - but I have had many, many, many discussions. It's probably the No. 1 topic of questions that I'm asked from fighters."

Novitzky went into further detail on why marijuana should be removed from the prohibited list.

"This anti-doping was supposed to be put in place for the protection and health and safety of the athletes. It's actually, if you look at it, pushing athletes to more dangerous, more addictive drugs." he continued.

"That's the biggest problem I see with that. I can almost guarantee you (that happens) because I've had these conversations with some of our athletes when I tell them that marijuana needs to be discontinued a few weeks out from the fight.

"That's blood on the hands of the anti-doping movement and WADA right there.

"That's the major reason why I think that those rules need to be changed and uniformly. We need to take marijuana off the prohibited list."

Of course, Nate Diaz and his older brother, Nick, have never shied away from their love of marijuana, although it has caused controversy in the past.

Nick was initially given a five-year suspension by The Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing a third test until it was later reduced to 18 months, while Nate decided to spark up a joint at the UFC 241 open workouts - something that raised eyebrows.

Nate also decided to smoke a Marijuana vape pen following his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 202 and a possible suspension was reported.

But The USADA (U.S Anti-Doping Agency) later announced that he would not face any disciplinary action.

"It's CBD," Diaz said when asked what it was at the press conference.

"It helps with the healing process and inflammation, stuff like that. So you want to get these for before and after the fights, training. It'll make your life a better place."

Thoughts on the use of marijuana for either recovery or recreational purposes?

Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: MMA News, UFC, MMA