Nevada commission set to toughen anti-doping punishment

Today could be an historic day for the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Commissioners will consider toughening the state’s anti-doping policy and laws for those combat sports participants who violate the rules when they meet at 9 a.m. at the Sawyer Building.

The NAC already has the power to suspend an athlete for life and fine 100 percent of the fighter’s purse, although most of the harsher penalties in recent years have been one-year suspensions and 30 percent of the violator’s purse.

The commission is looking at new rules that set out a schedule for punishments depending on the category of drugs and the number of previous violations. In addition, the NAC will continue to follow the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list of drugs and medications.

Among the proposed punishments are:

■ A one-year suspension and a fine of 25 percent to 35 percent of the violator’s purse for a first-time violation for using diuretics.

■ A two-year suspension and a fine of 35 percent to 45 percent of the purse for a first-time violation of using stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines.

■ A two-year suspension and a fine of 40 percent to 50 percent of an individual’s purse for a first-time violation using anabolic steroids.

■ A four-year suspension and 50 percent fine for first-time violators who avoid testing and detection and whose urine sample is not of the tested athlete and drugs that are used as masking agents.

Repeat offenses will carry double the penalties. Third-time offenders will be barred for life.

“I think everyone agrees that tougher penalties need to be imposed,” NAC chairman Francisco Aguilar said. “What we hope to do is have a policy document in place to guide us.”

Commissioner Pat Lundvall, who has been at the forefront of examining what changes in policy need to be made, said it’s about keeping up with the times and also making sure no combatant has an edge because of performance-enhancing drugs.

“In 2005, we studied the anti-doping issue extensively and in 2010 we made significant changes,” Lundvall said. “Here we are, five years later, and we’re once again looking at where we are on this.

“We’re seeing too many violations. We need to be stricter in imposing penalties. I think the athletes want a level playing field, and it’s our responsibility to see that we provide that for them.”

On March 27, the commission held a workshop in which doctors, promoters and drug-testing representatives spoke of the current climate on dealing with drugs in boxing and mixed martial arts and offered their input as to how the NAC might want to think about proceeding. On April 21, there was additional discussion among the commissioners, though no action was taken.

Since that meeting, longtime commissioner Bill Brady resigned. Brady, who stepped down May 6, said he had concerns over enacting tougher penalties on fighters, particularly as it pertained to the percentage of their purse.

However, the four remaining commissioners who will meet today appear to be on the same page when it comes to enacting tougher penalties, and Lundvall believes there will be action taken when item No. 26 is visited on the agenda for today’s meeting.

“I’m confident we’ll see changes,” she said. “I don’t know exactly where my fellow commissioners stand, but I think we’re in agreement on the issues.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj