UFC 259: Dominick Cruz details embarrassing Usada story; ‘scared’ of them despite award for 50 clean tests
- Former bantamweight champ criticises UFC’s anti-doping partner, saying ‘you don’t know what they could do to you’
- Cruz recounts being woken up by testers at 6.30am in his robe ‘with the morning ritual for men that every now and then happens’
Dominick Cruz was awarded a special Usada jacket for 50 clean tests ahead of his return to the Octagon, but still took a swipe at the UFC’s anti-doping partner – and detailed an embarrassing interaction with their testers.
Former bantamweight champion Cruz (22-3), who faces Casey Kenney on Saturday evening’s preliminary card in Las Vegas, was given the award at the UFC 259 media day in Las Vegas.
“It‘s pretty honourable,” the 35-year-old said. “I don’t look at it as a thing because this is just how I’ve been doing the sport, you don’t really think of it as a big deal.
“When Usada makes it a big deal, I think that just kind of shows two things to me. It says Usada either really wants the promotion, which is OK, that‘s what this world is about is promotion, right? Or it also tells me there are a lot of dirty fighters in other organisations – in other sports. Like TJ Dillashaw in my division, in my sport, after I fought him. They’re still trying to use some people.”
“And everybody’s trying to cut corners the best they can, sometimes. I stood after TJ Dillashaw popped and I said I feel bad for him because of this. And we’ve had guys like Jon Jones pop and Usada reversed the claims. And other people, they cut the sentence down and he’s not guilty.
“Jessica Penne they reversed the charges and now her name is tainted, so it can go both ways with Usada. They can blame you right away and make you guilty and make an example out of you, and then take it back and now you’re guilty for the rest of your career too. So I think it’s good when they’re bringing positive light to the testing because it’s not always positive for the fighters.