Jeff Novitzky

Date: 2018-12-27 | Duration: 1h 53m

Category: Combat Sports, Health & Medicine

Episode Overview

Jeff Novitzky, a leading figure in anti-doping and UFC’s Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, dives deep into the complexities of performance-enhancing drug detection and the evolving science behind it. A significant portion of the conversation centers on the controversial case of John Jones and the detection of oral turinabol metabolites at picogram levels—an extraordinarily tiny measurement that challenges traditional doping protocols. Novitzky explains how long-term metabolites, particularly the M3 metabolite, can linger in the body for months or even years, complicating the interpretation of positive tests and raising questions about intentional use versus residual presence. The discussion also explores the broader challenges of anti-doping enforcement, including the limitations of current testing windows, the phenomenon of microdosing, and the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between regulators and sophisticated doping methods. Novitzky shares insights from his law enforcement background, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between deliberate cheating and accidental ingestion, such as through contaminated supplements. He stresses the need for scientific rigor and fairness in adjudication, highlighting how the UFC’s testing program mirrors global standards while adapting to new findings. Throughout, Novitzky offers a candid perspective on the pressures athletes face and the evolving landscape of clean sport enforcement.

About Jeff Novitzky

Jeff Novitzky is the Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he plays a pivotal role in enhancing athlete welfare and performance standards. With a background in law enforcement and a former career as a special agent for the FDA, Novitzky gained prominence for his investigations into performance-enhancing drugs in sports, notably during the infamous BALCO scandal. Known for his relentless pursuit of integrity in athletics, he has been instrumental in shaping anti-doping policies in mixed martial arts, making him a key figure in the intersection of sports, health, and ethics. His unique blend of investigative expertise and commitment to athlete safety makes him a compelling voice in the fight for clean sport.

Key Moments

– Microdosing
– Mixed Martial Arts
– Anti-Doping
– Performance-Enhancing Drugs
– USADA Arbitration
– Metabolite Detection
– Supplement Contamination
– Pharmacokinetics
– Testosterone Replacement Therapy
– Athlete Biological Passport
– Drug Testing Protocols
– Doping Scandals
– Legal Issues in Sports
– East German Doping Program
– Mass Spectrometry
– Supplement Industry
– Athlete Reputation
– Sports Science Research
– Anti-Doping Policy
– UFC Drug Testing
0:00:00 – Introduction and greetings with Jeff Novitzky
0:00:56 – Discussion of oral turinabol source over a year ago
0:01:40 – John Jones arbitration and suspension details
0:02:46 – Non-intentional ingestion and athlete performance enhancement
0:04:45 – John Jones' test results: negative then low positive
0:07:55 – Strange action of long-term M3 metabolite explained
0:10:45 – Year-long studies on long-term metabolite detection
0:12:00 – Explanation of picogram measurement scale
0:16:52 – East German state-sponsored doping program history
0:20:32 – Experience with street drug distribution cases
0:23:07 – Endocrine Society study on metabolite detection
0:27:49 – Microdosing and challenges in anti-doping efforts
0:31:14 – Unprecedented nature of current doping detection
0:34:07 – WADA accreditation and detection limits discussion
0:38:18 – Expert opinion on re-administration and metabolite presence
0:42:27 – Jeff Novitzky's passion for catching cheaters
0:46:58 – Lip balm contamination causing trace positives
0:49:09 – Frank Mir's sanction and adjudication process
0:51:27 – Lack of law enforcement training on PED distribution
0:54:43 – Rumors of John Jones as an informant
0:58:09 – Distinguishing intentional cheating from naive supplement use
1:02:22 – Public availability of athlete testing spreadsheets
1:07:09 – Jurisdictional issues in Nevada over doping tests
1:10:34 – Public hearings on John Jones' suspension
1:14:47 – Nevada's jurisdiction close to fight date
1:18:05 – Fairness considerations for athletes in doping cases
1:22:10 – Ongoing research paper on doping detection methods
1:26:39 – John Jones' positive tests and public perception
1:31:27 – Public tendency to label athletes as cheats
1:33:08 – Future changes to prevent doping controversies
1:37:19 – Science of long-term metabolite retention in body
1:40:18 – Hope to end John Jones doping discussions
1:44:30 – Personal anecdotes and closing remarks
1:47:50 – UFC and expert collaboration on doping absolutes
1:49:06 – Metabolite levels fluctuating in tests

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 four three two one boom got a little thing going on here now a little circle hello jeff Starting point is 00:00:56 as oral turinamol. And this was over a year ago. What was determined to be the source of this stuff? Starting point is 00:01:40 suspension because really one key thing came out of arbitration. So John went to arbitration before Starting point is 00:02:23 So he's a very, very respected guy. Starting point is 00:02:46 enhanced the athlete's performance. So A, non-intentional. So non-intentional ingestion. Starting point is 00:03:30 He was a little bit critical of USADA. He thought, you know, he's intimately familiar with his Starting point is 00:04:04 Yeah, well, look, you know, and it's detailed in the arbitration hearing at all. Starting point is 00:04:45 Okay, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't John test negative, then test positive for extremely low numbers? Starting point is 00:05:33 and then studied the excretion of his urine and what was coming out of it over the weeks and Starting point is 00:06:16 That's a good question, and that's basically the question at point. Starting point is 00:07:12 short or medium term metabolites. Now, again, we'll get into this a little bit more, but I Starting point is 00:07:55 But we're seeing this strange action with the long-term M3 metabolite. Starting point is 00:08:33 Now, how much time is it detectable, the actual drug itself? Starting point is 00:08:55 But apparently, this was part of his protocol for Russian athletes. Starting point is 00:09:33 Now, what is the window that this metabolite is supposed to be detectable in the body? Starting point is 00:09:53 That's the thing. Starting point is 00:10:26 indicated a long-term effect, right? Starting point is 00:10:45 28th. Over this last year, there's been a lot of study into this long-term metabolite. As I Starting point is 00:11:29 metabolite 4 he had been tested you know for it he had been tested multiple times in the program Starti...

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Jeff Novitzky was the guest on JRE #10053. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

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On Joe Rogan Experience #10053 with Jeff Novitzky, topics include Microdosing, Mixed Martial Arts, Anti-Doping, and Performance-Enhancing Drugs.

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