UFC hires BALCO, Armstrong investigator

When UFC officials announced earlier this year a plan to completely overhaul the company’s drug testing program, they assured big changes.

The organization took a step toward fulfilling that promise on Monday, announcing Jeff Novitzky has been hired to run the organization’s clean initiative education program.

Novitzky, who officially becomes the vice president of athlete health and performance, carries a very high-profile in the performance-enhancing drug field.

He has been a federal agent for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2008, but rose to prominence as a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service.

It was during his time in the Criminal Investigation Department with the IRS that Novitzky helped uncover evidence of a doping conspiracy at BALCO when he sifted through Victor Conte’s garbage.

Novitzky then became the driving force behind the investigations into Lance Armstrong and Roger Clemens as an investigator for the FDA.

According to a news release on the hiring, the UFC brought in Novitzky as part of a continuing effort to help “ensure that every athlete competes with natural ability on an even playing field.”

The UFC’s Chief Operating Officer said Novitzky’s hiring shows how seriously the organization takes its drug testing and education program, which fully goes into effect in July.

“There is no bigger advocate of clean professional sports than Jeff Novitzky,” Lawrence Epstein said in a news release. “When we announced our commitment for an enhanced drug testing program in February, we wanted to ensure that the best people would be helping move this program forward and Jeff will lead the UFC in developing the most comprehensive anti-doping policy in professional sports.”

Novitzky said he is excited to get to work on helping to ensure a clean organization.

“I am thrilled to be joining a world-class organization like UFC, that is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure all of its athletes are competing in a clean sport,” he said. “I am confident that UFC will be able to create a new gold standard testing program and implement it so a sustainable and level playing field is provided for all athletes.”

Novitzky, who played basketball at San Jose State from 1989 until 1991, has been criticized for utilizing hyper-aggressive tactics in past investigations.

He will begin working in the UFC’s Las Vegas office later this month.

ROUSEY BOOK NOT BANNED — Contrary to several reports over the weekend, retailer Wal-Mart does not plan to ban UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s book when it becomes available on May 12.

“My Fight/Your Fight” will not be displayed on bookshelves, however.

The book will be available only to online shoppers and can be purchased at Wal-Mart locations through the “pick up in store” option.

Richard Johnson of the New York Post reported Wal-Mart planned on not selling the book because Rousey is “too violent.”

Wal-Mart spokesperson Danit Marquadt spoke to several media outlets on Monday, delivering essentially the same message each time. She said the retailer considers several factors in determining what products to make available in its stores.

Rousey’s profile continues to grow. She appeared in “Furious 7,” which was released last week. She also has a role in the “Entourage” movie, which is due out in June.

Wal-Mart reportedly is one of the nation’s leading seller of guns and ammunition.

UFC DEBUTS IN POLAND — The organization will head to Poland for the first time with an event in Krakow on Saturday.

The main event features the return of heavyweight kickboxer Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, who will compete in the UFC for the first time since October 2011. Filipovic will look for redemption against Gabriel Gonzaga, who scored a head kick knockout in the first meeting back in 2007.

Filipovic is 3-1 in four fights since leaving the UFC on a three-fight losing streak.

Also on the card, Jimi Manuwa will fight Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight bout and women’s strawweight Joanne Calderwood will be in action for the first time since her stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” against Maryna Moroz.

The card will air exclusively on the UFC’s online platform, Fight Pass.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.