A published report suggested Sunday that a Toronto councillor wants area schools to promote an anti-bullying program touted by a controversial mixed martial arts league, but Coun. Doug Ford claims his intention was misunderstood.
The Toronto Star reported Sunday that an assistant to the brother of Mayor Rob Ford asked a Toronto District School Board trustee to distribute a brochure about a community works program sponsored by the Ultimate Fighting Championship group.
But Ford said he is not suggesting that kids should learn to fight.
"By no means is this going into a high school and promoting UFC in the school," Ford told CTV Toronto on Sunday.
Instead, Ford said that the UFC program, which was launched in April, would offer lectures from UFC fighters and police officers to the youths.
The UFC Community Works program is a leadership-based initiative, using athletes to teach at-risk youth about discipline and respect.
And the UFC's website claims that it "seeks to make meaningful contributions to communities in need from coast to coast with a particular focus on at-risk youth."
But Toronto District School Board trustees oppose the community program, arguing that it promotes violence. CTV News could not reach anyone at the Board for comment on Sunday.
Doug Ford declined to comment when reached by the Star about the original story, citing the mayor's policy to not speak to the paper. Mayor Ford is awaiting a front page apology from the newspaper over a 2010 article, which he said made false claims about him.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Ashley Rowe
