FIMMA entrusts key anti-doping activities to the ITA to strengthen integrity in FIMMA competitions

Founded in 2025, the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) is one of the organisations active in amateur mixed martial arts internationally. It is dedicated to the development, regulation and promotion of the sport through its activities. Working with national and continental federations, FIMMA aims to strengthen governance, promote athlete welfare and establish a structured framework for the continued international development of MMA.

As part of its commitment to clean sport, FIMMA has decided to entrust the ITA with the independent implementation of several key components of its anti-doping program. The partnership came into effect in October 2026, with a phased implementation of the delegated activities.

Under the agreement, the ITA is responsible for conducting in-competition doping controls, delivering anti-doping education, overseeing regulatory compliance and independently managing potential anti-doping rule violations through its results management procedures. The ITA will also administer Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs).

The scope of the partnership further includes the development of a comprehensive risk assessment and a corresponding test distribution plan, ensuring that anti-doping activities are informed by scientific expertise and adapted to the specific characteristics and risks of mixed martial arts. The ITA will additionally provide intelligence and investigations expertise and make its confidential reporting platform, REVEAL, available to facilitate the reporting of suspected anti-doping rule violations.

Anti-doping education will be an important element of the collaboration, helping MMA athletes and their support personnel understand their rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code and contributing to a culture of clean sport as the discipline continues to develop internationally.

Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the ITA, said: “We welcome FIMMA to the growing community of international sports organisations that have chosen to strengthen their anti-doping programs through independent management. Our support will focus on FIMMA’s delegated anti-doping activities, from education and testing to intelligence and independent results management. As mixed martial arts continues to develop internationally, we look forward to helping FIMMA protect its athletes and ensure fair competition through a robust and credible anti-doping framework for its program, while contributing to a strong culture of clean sport across the wider MMA community.”

Gordon Tang, President of FIMMA, said: “This partnership with the ITA represents an important step in FIMMA’s commitment to developing a credible, transparent and internationally aligned framework for amateur mixed martial arts. Following MMA’s successful debut at the Asian Youth Games and Asian Games under the auspices of the Olympic Council of Asia, we recognise the importance of continuously strengthening our governance, athlete protection and competition standards. By entrusting key anti-doping responsibilities to the ITA, we are taking a meaningful step towards ensuring that our athletes compete in a safe, fair and credible sporting environment. FIMMA remains committed to uniting the global MMA community, establishing sustainable development pathways for athletes and working towards the sport’s long-term Olympic aspirations. We believe that integrity, good governance and athlete welfare must remain at the heart of this journey.”

Through this partnership, FIMMA and the ITA aim to establish a solid foundation for effective anti-doping activities within FIMMA’s program. The collaboration reflects both organisations’ shared commitment to protecting athletes and promoting fair competition in FIMMA competitions, while contributing to the wider effort to strengthen integrity in mixed martial arts.