The IBJJF will take further steps to support integrity in grappling competition and has announced that it has contracted the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to provide an anti-doping program during the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship in December. 

USADA is the independent national anti-doping organization in the United States, and runs the U.S. anti-doping program for Olympic and Paralympic sports in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code. 

Although the IBJJF is not a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, USADA is contracted by the IBJJF to conduct testing. The only other World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code signatory is United World Wrestling, which will hold its Grappling World Championships in Kazakhstan on September 22-23.

The anti-doping rules for the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship are set forth in the USADA Protocol. Athletes competing in the event could potentially be subject to blood and/or urine testing for any substance or method on the WADA Prohibited List. 

This is the first time that competitors at a no-gi event organized by the IBJJF could be subject to testing. In past years only the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship has seen black belt gold medal winners tested. 

A number of athletes have failed the strict anti-doping tests, including Gabi Garcia (2013), Braulio Estima (2014), Felipe Pena (2014), Leo Nogueira (2016), Paulo Miyao (2016), and Tayane Porfirio (2018). All were subject to loss of results, including forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes. With the exception of Garcia, all were issued suspensions from competition. 

Watch the 2019 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship LIVE and On-Demand ONLY on FloGrappling. 

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