USADA collected a fight night sample from Pettis at UFC 241 and the fighter claims the bottle used for said sample cut his hand, which is why Pettis is planning on suing the drug testing agency.
”I had to fight compromised,” he said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (via Steven Marrocco of MMA Fighting). “I gave USADA a chance to make it right, but right now, we’re going through the court. I’ve got to sue them.”
MMA Fighting also reports that Pettis has hired Howard Jacobs, who has previously represented Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar against USADA, to represent him against the drug testing agency. Abe Kawa, who is Pettis' manager, says the fighter also names the UFC and the bottle manufacturer in the potential lawsuit.
Pettis says one major factor that played into the decision to sue USADA is to ensure this situation doesn’t happen to other fighters.
“I don’t want this to happen to any other fighter,” he said. “I think something needs to change in the rules back there. We should be doing the piss test after we perform. If that would have happened ... I would never have had to deal with a cut on my hand before my fight.”
There has been no comment from a USADA representative at this time as to the allegations made against them by Pettis.
