JRE MMA Show #53 with Jeff Novitzky

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Jon Jones's Failed Drug Tests: The central discussion revolved around Jon Jones's initial positive test in July 2017 for the M3 metabolite of dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT, or oral turinabol), and subsequent re-appearances of this metabolite in his system at extremely low picogram levels.
• The "Pulsing Effect": A significant portion of the conversation focused on the scientific theory of a "pulsing effect," where the long-term M3 metabolite of oral turinabol may be stored in fat tissues and released intermittently, leading to sporadic positive tests years after initial ingestion.
• Scientific Uncertainty in Ultra-Trace Detection: The episode delved into the challenges of interpreting extremely low picogram concentrations of substances, acknowledging the inexact nature of such measurements and the limited scientific understanding of long-term metabolite excretion.
• Impact of Weight Cutting: The potential influence of extreme weight cutting and dehydration in MMA on the release of metabolites from adipose (fat) tissue was explored as a possible factor in the "pulsing" phenomenon.
• Evolution of Anti-Doping Testing: The increasing sensitivity of drug testing, from nanograms to single-digit picograms, and the ethical considerations surrounding this heightened detection capability were also discussed.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• Richard McLaren's Ruling: The initial arbitration by Richard McLaren (renowned for the Russian doping report) determined that Jones's 2017 violation was "not intended nor could it have enhanced the athlete's performance," influencing the length of his suspension.
• The Picogram Scale: Jeff Novitzky illustrated the minuscule nature of a picogram by comparing it to a single grain of salt split 58 million times, highlighting the unprecedented sensitivity of current testing.
• No Evidence of Re-ingestion: Experts, including former USADA Science Director Larry Bowers, asserted that the absence of short and medium-term metabolites, combined with the fluctuating low picogram levels, strongly suggests no re-ingestion of the substance by Jones.
• Clomiphene Study Parallel: A peer-reviewed study on clomiphene (another chlorinated substance) showed a similar "pulsing effect" in its excretion, lending credence to the theory for oral turinabol.
• Adipose Tissue Theory: The idea that the M3 metabolite might be stored in adipose tissue (fat surrounding internal organs) and released during extreme weight cuts due to the body burning this fat was presented as a significant theory.
• Overly Sensitive Testing: Novitzky expressed concern that the pendulum of anti-doping testing might have swung "a little bit too far," potentially detecting environmental contamination (e.g., from water supplies or airborne particles) at such ultra-trace levels.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• On Richard McLaren's 2017 arbitration decision for Jon Jones: "I find that all evidence available to me leads me to conclude that the violation was not intended nor could it have enhanced the athlete's performance."
• From Larry Bowers, former USADA Science Director, on picogram measurements: "The numbers are really estimates of concentration and probably should be considered a range of about plus or minus 20 picograms per ml... science has no clear understanding of the variance of urinary excretion of drugs at ultratrace concentration."
• Regarding the minuscule nature of a picogram: "One grain of salt... if you split that 58 million times, each one is a picogram."
• On potential sources of ingestion, from McLaren's public arbitration record: "The athlete openly admitted to USADA that prior to and for a period of time after the reporting of his second adverse analytical finding on July 28, 2017, the athlete used illicit so-called street drugs including cocaine."
• Jeff Novitzky's reflection on modern testing: "I am almost under the theory that the pendulum has swung maybe a little bit too far in the other direction."

Overall Themes

This episode of the JRE MMA Show highlights the profound complexities of modern anti-doping, particularly in high-stakes sports like MMA. It underscores the challenge of differentiating between intentional cheating and accidental ingestion or residual effects, especially when dealing with substances like oral turinabol for which comprehensive human studies are ethically impossible. A central theme is the tension between achieving hyper-sensitive detection capabilities and ensuring fairness and accurate interpretation of results, especially at ultra-trace levels where scientific understanding is still developing. The episode also touches on the unique physiological strains of extreme weight cutting in MMA and its potential, yet unstudied, impact on drug metabolism and excretion.