Frank Mir used TRT while training for UFC 146
Posted on June 3, 2012, 12:02 PM by Mike DrahotaNews recently broke that UFC 146 Heavyweight title challenger Frank Mir had received a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) prior to the bout. Confirmed by NSAC commissioner Keith Kizer, Mir was said to have T:E levels of roughly 1:1. This is a far cry from Alistair Overeem's levels, the man whom he replaced in the bout. Overeem did not use TRT as a defense for his failed drug test and registered at 14:1 T:E levels.
The news comes as yet another example of a recent string of fighters being granted the TUE for Testosterone. A hotly debated topic that has surrounded Chael Sonnen, Quinton Rampage Jackson, and Dan Henderson, Mir now joins the list. He lost the fight via TKO, but one would have to think that if he had won the title, this finding would be much more controversial. His opponent Junior dos Santos has stated that he is a completely clean fighter and would never use TRT or PEDs.
TRT is seemingly becoming more commonplace in the UFC right now. The exemptions granted by the council do not appear to be highly difficult to obtain if the fighter is up-front with the commission and takes all of the necessary steps to document its use. In Mir's case, Kizer stated that he would still have to remain under the 6:1 T:E maximum levels allowed by NSAC standards. As we all know, Nick Diaz was suspended for one year after testing positive for marijuana metabolites. Many thought this was a bit harsh, as fighters left and right are beginning to use a performance-enhancing injection like Testosterone with approval. Is this a black eye on the sport of MMA? Could it be a loophole that ultimately causes the mainstream public to look down on fighting? Hopefully it never reaches the point where a fighter must use TRT to remain competitive. The subject will rage on when Sonnen faces Anderson Silva on July 7th.
Further Reading: Chael Sonnen granted TRT use exemption by NSAC
Comments
The last dramatic testosterone story to break: There is a guy over in Bellator who hasn't used TRT!!!
will guys start agreeing a certian level before each fight on there contract
for each other to say hey u can take but if ur over these level its breach of contract..................
Didn't help much now did it?
Ha! Well, Roy, I know you're joking but the goal of properly done TRT is not to make you better but rather to prevent an inappropriate slide backwards in muscle mass, function, repair and energy.
in other words if you're body can't hack the training you cheat.....
its not what overeem said :D
Taking TRT doesn't improve your skills as a fighter, however it is a legal form of cheating to a certain extent. TRT allows fighters to artificially raise their T levels so they can train longer and recover quicker, Peds have the same effect and that's why they are illegal. Loop holes are there to be exposed, fair play to fighters for using it there not breaking rules.
no they aint breaking the rules and some people will always say hey it aint illegal but its not very sporting, like when mayweather KO'ed Ortiz, he seen he was talking 2 the ref his gaurd was down the ref had said put your hands up and fight, mayweather was well within the rules to knock him out, but to most boxing fans it was like, dam man that aint sporting, taking advantage like that, this is kinda what trt is, its legal but not fair, its a loop hole that fighters are exploiting, a loop hole i hope gets closed, until then it should either be no fighter takes it, or all fighters take it...plus u gotta ask your self why should these fighters need it unless they have abused steroids at some point in there life?
Or how about if your levels are repeatedly normal or high with testing you don't take it and if your levels are repeatedly low with testing you are allowed to use it with close monitoring.
In that way athletes are treated the same as people with other hormone deficiencies like diabetes (insulin replacement) or hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone replacement), Addison's Disease (Cortisol replacement), menopause (estrogen replacement) or Androgen Deficiency Syndrome (TRT).
It is a simple matter for those organizations with the will: allow replacement when rigorous testing proves need but monitor the heck out of them with random monthly testing.
Well, cheating is cheating IMHO. If you're on TRT or PED, you are trying to gain an advantage over your opponent, which means you are 110% cheating. I really like Mir as a fighter, but at the end of the day, he did cheat. NSAC should either allow every fighter to use it or ban it completely from the sport, you can't have it both ways, sorry.
well based on your logic than weigh cutting is also cheating
since it gives you an advantage over your opponent
supplements also is cheating , shake protein should be
ilegal then because it helps you grow muscle faster
oh and getting a training camp of 8 -12 weeks is also cheating because most fighter only use 6-8 weeks , so hes getting an advantage by training longer.
don't be stupid TRT is not Cheating is just another form
of supplement to help in training , Mir still got TKO didn't he?
TRT won't turn you into superman or will help you when getting kick or punch , it won't make you bruce lee
so why call it cheating? 1 word = Ignorance .
Dang Rigo, dont have to use logic that viciously.
Now Underdog will have to try to come up with a paragraph that explains his opinion, but really is a way to slowly back out of his argument.
At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I gave my opinion as did Rigo, big deal. His egregious explanation above may be quite enough for you, DLS, however it means absolutely nothing to me. The only logical question should be: Why is it illegal for some fighters while it is legal for others? Yes, Mir's testosterone levels were low, great, but would you feel the same way if Anderson Silva, JDS were granted permission to use it as well? My answer is probably not. Isn't it very Ironic that most of the lowkickers who support the usage of TRT are Cheal Sonnen's supporters? It's very hypocritical for some of you to support the usage of TRT in favor of some fighters while you would think differently if the fighters you dislike the most were in the same situation.
B.I.N.G.O.
Don't waste your time UDG, in their eyes Chael can do NO wrong.
@UDG
Its enough for me because it makes sense. But I guess that is not enough for you.
If Silva/JDS needs it, he can go right ahead. He's getting tested, if the AC is saying its fair and his T/E ratio is 1:1 or even 6:1 (legal limits).
Dont you think its ironic that Silva fans are against TRT? Any other fighters I dislike that take TRT, go right ahead, Nick Diaz can do it, Jon Jones, he's 24. Go ahead. Idgaf
I absolutely agree, and not because I'm a Mir fan. If Frank Mir's testosterone levels are low, and he gets on a therapy to normalize it 1:1 - how is that cheating?
10:1 what's that considered Chael fans?
if thats the case then let them all take whatever they want...fairs fair
Bring everyone to the same blood level - that's fair.
People fear what they don't understand
very true Rigo
TRT is actually a great new treatment
not just for fighters but for all man
that has to be the stupidest boyish thing i have ever heard, thats like saying " mommy tommy robbed sweets from the shop so its ok for me to do it lol cause a fighter chooses to train for 8 weeks instead of 6 is his choice not cheating idiot
I understand that a fighter with an extremely high level of testosterone they received to gain an advantage over their opponent is Chaeling, i mean Cheating & i don't need no sassy talking Chael follower telling me different. Rec
@ Underdoggreatness and Hateocracy, the flaw in your argument is that I have long been on record as being a fan of both Sonnen and Silva. Silva is the better fighter, in fact probably the greatest fighter alive today. Sonnen is a great entertainer and a good fighter.
To answer UDG's question: Would I feel the same if Silva used TRT? I would feel the same if any athlete can show 2 things. 1) with an independent physician (working for the commission) several abnormally low readings before TRT and 2) on TRT random monthly tests in the normal range.
It has nothing to do with being a Sonnen fan for me since I like both very much. I suspect for you guys tho it has to do with an obsessive vendetta against Sonnen because he almost upset your man and he is the biggest threat and because he is an obnoxious loud mouth (that's the part I like)
If that's the case then why when i got home from 117 o came straight to lowkick & gave Chael massive props, but when it came out that he cheated i lost ALL respect for dude.
You've been somewhat objective lately when it comes to that matter, so I'm okay with you, Bruce. That said, I totally disagree with your last paragraph.
Frank Mir - " Yeah I take steroids, I eat that shit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
what they really need to ban is PRT, that is what GSP uses
poutine replacement therapy :)
bad joke of the week award
This does seems like a complex medical and PR issue.
At one end of the spectrum, you have Lance Armstrong. Most people seem to think using TRT after you've had cancer is okay.
So where do you draw the line? How serious a medical condition does someone have to have?
But legally, if it's sanctioned, it seems like a moot point.
Mir did not look good at all, so it certainly didn't help him. I also find it interesting that this was kept under wraps until after the fight.
It's interesting that given the leniency of Trt exceptions being granted that there are still so many fighters getting injured. On a side note..... How did Mir keep this quiet for so long? Chael being granted the exception seemed to be announced almost immediately.
Why don't they just legalize roids at this point. I wanna see the biggest, strongest, freaks of nature in the cage going at it. That's the only way things will ever really be fair.
Watch the old pride days with Mark Kerr etc...
Well wait a minute, they put asteriks by McGwire and Bonds for using PED's or Andro.
Also this is one reason Fedor has been on his down fall. He doesn't use them. JDS doesn't use them either, STILL YOUNG, so he won't need them. What does he do when he's 35?
Well, McGwire and Bonds broke the rules within their sport. Guys like Mir, Sonnen, Rampage and Henderson are all currently taking a substance that is allowed within the rules of their sport, given proper disclosure and permission. If they won fights or titles and were exposed to be breaking any actual rules (like McGwire or Bonds), then their wins would likely be made No Contests and their titles would be taken away.
Bottom line is, and to be super cliche - don't hate the player, hate the game. Unless the RULES are changed, you must expect every competitor to take every advantage possible within the rules.
im waiting for bruce buffer to flying arm bar one of the ring girls n then us all to find out hes fekin on it aswell haha
Ok hear me out... How bad ass would it be if the UFC or some off shoot of an MMA leage where you could use whatever you wanted as long as you made a weight class you could fight...Imagine the possibilities?! The KO's would be be GODLY!!!! I'd pay to see that. I mean come on they are suppose to entertain and could possibly get millions for doing so...what do you say Dana???
we are already seeing that in Alistair Overeem