Roy “Big Country”  Nelson has quest to make VADA testing more mainstream within the sport. He spoke with Steph Daniels last week when the Volunteer Anti-Doping Association (VADA)  proposal had been issued for 3 or 4 days with this to say:

Lack of response from Mitrione on VADA testing proposal:

“He told me, when we were on the phone, ‘Let me look into it’, which usually means you either want to look into it or, well, his teammate is Alistair Overeem, so I don’t know.

To me, it’s either a yes or a no.

It’s not a ‘I’ll look into it’ kind of thing. You’re either going to do it or you’re not. It’s really not that hard.

I haven’t heard back from him at all. I’ll probably have Jessy (Nelson’s wife and manager), follow up next week.  Time is of the essence here.  I’m just trying to clean up the sport.”

Importance of VADA testing becoming an organized, mandatory routine in MMA:

“It’s important for people to know that you’re drug-free.

Doing the extra steps, that you do on your own, versus doing just what the UFC or the commission asks of you, is giving more back to the fans.

It’s like putting in that extra round for them.

You get some that think you’re trying to pick on people, or take it that you’re saying that they use steroids, or basically saying they’re guilty.   I’m not saying anything other than, ‘Let’s clean up our sport together.’

If you say ‘no’, then there’s a reason why.

I’m not here to judge, but you obviously have a reason why you’re saying no.  It’s obvious to fans.  Any moron can see that if you don’t want to do it, there’s a reason.

We’re trying to take steps forward, and every time someone says ‘no’, it takes us 20 steps back.”

TUF 16 Finale will be headlined by Heavyweight coach, Roy Nelson, taking on late replacement Matt Mitrione rather than opposing coach, Shane Carwin, because the “Engineer” was forced off the card due to an injury.   The event will take place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 15, 2012.

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