Takedown against doping: the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation partners with the International Testing Agency

IMMAF, founded in 2012, is the international governing body for amateur mixed martial arts (MMA). With a purpose to further the development, recognition and regulation of MMA, it enables amateur competitions through the organisation of national MMA federations around the world. To date, IMMAF has 132 national federation members and four confederations. IMMAF is a Signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code. Pursuing its professionalisation and with the desire to offer its athletes an expert and independent anti-doping program, IMMAF has decided to entrust the ITA with its clean sport activities as of the beginning of 2024.

The ITA now manages the entire testing program for IMMAF, both for in-competition and out-of-competition doping controls. These tests will be based on a bespoke risk assessment that takes into account all relevant factors, including the physiological profile and sporting specificities of mixed martial arts.

The management of Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs) of MMA athletes and the processing of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) will also be handled by the ITA. In addition, it will strengthen IMMAF’s anti-doping efforts with a long-term sample retention strategy that will allow selected samples to be stored and re-analysed for up to ten years after the date of collection.

In order to provide MMA athletes with the most comprehensive anti-doping program possible, the ITA will complete the IMMAF anti-doping program with intelligence & investigations activities and respond to all information shared confidentially through the ITA’s secure reporting platform REVEAL.

All clean sport activities on behalf of IMMAF will be conducted by the ITA in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its International Standards, with the ITA’s dedicated Regulatory Compliance unit ensuring full compliance with the mandatory rules. All potential anti-doping rule violations arising from theanti-doping program will be subject to independent results management by the ITA.

The ITA will also raise awareness of doping, support the values of clean sport and contribute to the prevention of doping among MMA athletes by establishing an education plan in line with WADA’s International Standard for Education from 2024.

“It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome IMMAF as our newest partner at the ITA,” says ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “Our dedicated team is committed to contributing to the development of a robust clean sport program for mixed martial arts athletes as we begin this joint journey for fair play. With a proven track record of managing anti-doping programs for various combat sports, including karate, boxing, aikido, muaythai, judo, kurash, wushu, wrestling, kickboxing, savate, sambo and taekwondo, the ITA is well versed in tailoring strategies to the specific needs of these athletes. As we take over the responsibility for the entire IMMAF anti-doping program from 1 January 2024, we want to support IMMAF athletes with the best independent clean sport during measures possible and ensure fair competition for years to come.”

Densign White MBE, the CEO of IMMAF, expresses: “The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is delighted to enter into a partnership with the International Testing Agency (ITA) for the delivery of our anti-doping program. As the only international governing body for MMA fully compliant with the WADA code, we are proud of the developments that have been made by our anti-doping program. Athlete safety in IMMAF has always been of paramount importance, and we strive to be the best in class. The ITA relationship will further enhance our good governance credentials and demonstrate our values in terms of transparency and integrity.”