Pat Healy Admits to Positive UFC 159 Drug Test

[broncofan]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/pat-healy-admi ... -drug-test

Pat Healy on Tuesday revealed that he tested positive for marijuana following his UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen victory over Jim Miller on April 27 in New Jersey.

Healy’s representatives at Iridium Sports Agency informed MMAWeekly.com that the Healy vs. Miller result has been changed to a no contest, and that Healy has been handed a 90-day suspension.

“I would like to start off by apologizing to the UFC, Jim Miller, the MMA community, it’s fans, my family, teammates and coaches for my positive testing for marijuana after my UFC 159 fight with Jim Miller,” Healy said in a prepared statement.

“I was fully aware of the UFC and State Commission’s drug policies and made poor life choices. I stand behind the UFC and the State Commission’s disciplinary actions. I support efforts to make MMA and sports a clean, safe and fair place to compete.

“First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and take responsibility for my mistake. I made a very poor choice to socially use marijuana and now I must face the consequences of that choice. I can assure you that I will do everything the UFC and State Commission asks of me and beyond. I will also make a conscious effort to be a better role model within the MMA community.”

Healy and Miller fought a back-and-forth, high paced fight with Healy submitting Miller late in the third round. They were awarded Fight of the Night honors, and Healy was awarded the Submission of the Night bonus.

The New Jersey Athletic Control Board declined to comment. The UFC had yet to comment at the time of publication.

[ArmyofDarkness]

Hope that joint was tasty!

An evening with old friends ultimately will cost UFC lightweight Pat Healy at least $130,000 in lost bonuses.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported Tuesday, Healy (29-16 MMA, 0-1 UFC) failed a post-fight drug test following his recent UFC 159 win over fellow lightweight Jim Miller (22-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC). His third-round submission victory has been overturned to a no-contest, and he's been suspended 90 days, according to Healy.

Additionally, though the organization hasn't made a formal announcement, Healy must surrender his $65,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus and a $65,000 "Submission of the Night" award, as well as his undisclosed win bonus for the April 27 fight, which took place in Newark, N.J.

Healy, who fessed up to marijuana use in a prepared statement, used the drug while out with his friends a month before the fight, according to Phil Claud, Healy's trainer at Sports Lab in Portland, Ore.

It's a costly penalty for a non-performance-enhancing drug – one that can stay in a fighter's system far longer than most other drugs. The system for penalizing marijuana users has come under fire in recent months, especially as the legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy remains an issue in the sport. Still, Healy stated he should have been a "better role model."

The UFC recently changed its policy and currently withholds fight-night bonuses until drug-testing results are available.

Caraway will handing out some joints in the future.

Pat Healy's loss is Bryan Caraway's gain; a $65,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus initially awarded to Healy instead will go to Caraway.

UFC President Dana White today confirmed the change via Twitter.