UFC stars recall the wildest places USADA testers tracked them down

Former UFC champions Chris Weidman, Jorge Masvidal and Dustin Poirier recently shared their most memorable encounters with USADA drug testers during an appearance on the "Deep Waters" podcast, revealing just how intrusive and inconvenient the UFC's anti-doping programme can be for active fighters.

Weidman, the ex-middleweight champion, detailed several surprise visits from USADA agents that disrupted his daily life. On one occasion, testers tracked him down to a golf course mid-round, forcing him and his playing partners to wait while he provided blood and urine samples. "Once they see you, you can't leave their eyesight," Weidman explained. In another incident, he received a warning after failing to answer the door within a two-hour testing window when agents showed up at his mountain home while he was away—the missed window cost him even though he was flying back to comply. Perhaps most frustratingly, USADA arrived unannounced while Weidman was recovering from surgery, still wearing an IV band from the hospital. Since intravenous therapy is prohibited under anti-doping rules, he feared potential trouble despite having a legitimate medical reason.

Masvidal recounted his own ordeal, describing how USADA testers followed him throughout Miami after catching him at Top Team training facility. "They followed me all the way to Miami," Masvidal said. "Take them everywhere with me, eating, drinking." He expressed frustration that agents timed his testing immediately after an intense workout session, which is typically an inconvenient moment for fighters.

Poirier added his story to the mix, noting that he was once tested while in the middle of purchasing a vehicle. The anecdotes underscore the random and sometimes poorly timed nature of USADA's testing protocols—a reality that has long been a source of frustration among UFC athletes navigating the demands of both their sport and everyday life.