A new addition to the ongoing clinical trials, exploring the potential benefits of CBD, is being run by an interesting partnership. Canadian company, Aurora Cannabis, has teamed up with the Ultimate Fighting Champion league to test the effects of CBD on the elite athletes.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been famed in recent years for having potential pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, among other health benefits. Consequently, Aurora Cannabis and the UFC want to test this theory.
Clinical trials will be carried out, using the elite UFC athletes, as subjects. If positive, the results may become the basis of a new product line from Aurora Cannabis, in association with the UFC league, aimed at athletes.
The studies will focus on Hemp-derived CBD’s potential to be used for pain, inflammation, wound-healing and recovery.
It’s no secret that the mixed martial arts league can be painfully brutal, causing all manner of injuries and wounds. The organisers of the trial believe that this makes the athletes the perfect test subjects for the experiment.
Ultimate Fighting Championship President, Dana White, said:
“This is a ground-breaking deal, not just for the UFC but for sports and humanity in general”.
The study will be carried out at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Overseeing the project are: Dr. Jason Dyck, chair of Aurora’s Global Scientific Oversight Committee; Dr. Kelly Narine, Aurora’s vice-president of Global Research and Medical Affairs; and the team of sports performance experts at the UFC Performance Institute.
The UFC has reported that the partnership will span eight years, and it is thought that a large number of UFC athletes have expressed an interest in participating.
Aurora Cannabis CEO, Terry Booth, commented:
“Our partnership with UFC is about committing to the science that will educate and advocate.
“We are going to work together to change the way people think, to change the industry and to launch the first hemp-derived CBD products that are backed by scientific research. The brand-building and product development are all part of our move into the US, and in collaboration with UFC, and we intend to play a major role in that market.”
The UFC are not the only sporting league who are looking to explore the potential of Cannabis-based alternatives for pain management. In addition, the NFL agreed to investigate the potential of Cannabis alternatives, following calls from the NFL Players Association.
Other partnerships in the pipeline includes a sports drink by drinks company, Defy, and American Tennis Player, John Isner.
