Dana White Fact Check - MLB and NBA Do Not Let COVID-19 Positive Players Compete
Or How About You Answer The Question About The UFC Bubble?
On Tuesday, UFC president Dana White attempted to pull the old “what about” change up when he was asked if he was concerned about the number of positive COVID-19 tests that were coming out of the UFC Apex bubble.
“Look at the history here,” White said. “Look at what we’ve done, look at how it’s all worked out. One of the things that we’re not doing that the other sports are doing is there’s people that keep testing positive, but they have no symptoms and they’re not contagious. They’re letting those guys play, if it’s in the NBA or Major League Baseball. We’re not. I mean that’s the difference.”
Turns out that not only is that not true of both organizations, but the NBA has had ZERO positive COVID-19 tests since it moved to its bubble.
Per USA Today:
I became pleasantly surprised the NBA has overseen exactly zero positive COVID-19 cases since teams arrived here in early July. I know it is too early for NBA to run a victory lap, however, until the league’s championship team hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy in October.
And MLB, well, they have protocols in place for positive tests, per SI:
“The protocols contemplate that games will be permitted to continue when a player or staff member test positive after the contract tracing process is completed,’’ the memo reads, according to Nightengale. “After any persons who had close contact with the infected player or staff member are identified and isolated, the rest of the team is cleared to resume normal operations. We have had numerous situations this season in which a player or staff member on a club tested positive, that individual was isolated, and games continued without any further spread of the virus.’’
So, turns out White lied, now, maybe he can answer the question as to how and why fights are getting scratched on fight day if fighters are in a bubble and they are being tested as soon as they arrive.
I’m not counting on an answer, but it would be nice.
Do you know something about UFC, USADA, an MMA manager or a fighter, that I should know? You can email me at trent.reinsmith@gmail.com or contact me via secure messaging on Telegram at trentreinsmith or via ProtonMail at trent.reinsmith@protonmail.com
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