UFC President Doesn't 'Buy' Supplement Excuse

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

January 27, 2012

1 Min Read
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UFC president Dana White said fighters who use the "it wasn't my fault I failed the drug test; it was an adulterated supplement" excuse should buck up and take blame. Even if a supplement is the cause of the dirty test, White said fighters need to know what they're taking and take responsibility.

White statementswhich are quite colorfulcame after fighter King Mo Lawal failed a drug test and blamed a dietary supplement he said he legally purchased over the counter. As quoted by SB Nation, White questioned any fighter who ingests something they haven't vetted. He said fighters who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs should admit what they did and face the consequences. He said he didn't "buy" the supplement excuse.

I'm glad White publically took this stance. It may not be easy for a president to take shots at the athletes who create a revenue stream for the company, but at least he has the correct opinion on his side. I agree with White, if you make a mistake, admit it, pay the consequences and move on. Blaming supplements makes the athlete look ignorant and naive, and it blows another credibility chip out of the already beaten-up sports supplement industry.

Athletes have no excuse, especially when they can buy products that have tested and certified by third parties. For instance, NSF International's Certified for Sport® program makes it easy for anyone to see which products are clean. And NSF makes it easy to access its information, with a consumer website and a recently launched mobile device app.

About the Author

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands SupplySide Supplement Journal and SupplySide Food & Beverage Journal, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide Connect New Jersey and SupplySide West, the education program SupplySide Fresh for industry newcomers and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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