Could TRT become a common issue in MMA?
Posted on June 29, 2011, 01:24 AM by Ryan VenturaWhen Nate Marquardt was pulled out of the UFC on Versus 4 main event last weekend, I was shocked to say the least. I just talked Nate a few weeks ago regarding his main event fight with Rick Story and he sounded like he was ready. He said his cut to welterweight was going well and he sounded more than capable to take the challenge Rick Story would have provided him. Then from left field on the day of the weigh-ins, UFC president Dana White drops a huge bomb, and set the Twitter on fire. He releases a video announcing to the world that Nate Marquardt failed his pre-fight medical test and was released from the promotion immediately.
At the time it wasn't announced why exactly Nate failed his testing and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission left it in the hands of Mr. Marquardt to explain himself. But while we were waiting for the reasons why this all happened, all fans and media could do at the moment was make educated guesses. Some people thought Nate had an STD; some said he may have even tested for an illegal substance or performance enhancing drug to help him make the cut to welterweight. The whole MMA world was buzzing until Nate himself finally went public Tuesday with his announcement.
Live on the MMA Hour hosted by Ariel Helwani on MMAfighting.com, Nate Marquardt and his manager Lex McMahon appeared live in studio to answer our questions. Keeping this short, Nate finally explained and shared his situation to the world. In August 2010, Nate was suffering from sluggishness, memory loss, and mood swings, which of course led him to see a medical professional. His doctor discovered the reason for his symptoms is due to low levels of testosterone and recommended TRT.
Now like most of you who are not doctors, my first reaction to the news was “what is a TRT”? I went on Wikipedia, various medical websites, and what I learned was TRT stands for testosterone replacement therapy. According to medicinenet.com, testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and it’s responsible for giving men male characteristics. It’s a very important hormone that helps maintain muscle bulk, red blood cells, bone grown, a sense of well-being, and sexual function.
I’m obviously no doctor, but I think all men around the world can agree that having low levels of testosterone is not a good thing. But hearing about Nate’s situation reminded me of another very familiar sounding one. You guys remember Chael Sonnen, that guy who challenged for Anderson Silva’s middleweight title last summer? He was suffering from a very similar situation, but the UFC hasn't treated him the same as Nate. In fact, it’s no secret that the UFC has been trying very hard to get him back in action.
Now I’m not trying to play the blame game on any party and I’m not trying to say if hormone injections are right or wrong. Our good friend Matthew Roth from headkicklegend.com explained to my editor Anton Gurevich that a very common reason for low testosterone levels can be due to “sweaty” activities like hard training, cutting weight, and using a sauna. We all know Nate was working very hard to reach the 170 mark and what else do you do when you are trying to make weight? You work hard and you sweat hard.
This probably won’t be the last time we hear about testosterone replacement therapy. In fact, we might even hear about more cases of them in all of combat sports. Is it a form of cheating? Could it give a fighter an edge? I don’t know; I’m not qualified at all to make such statements. But I think I can speak for others when I say as fans we deserve a sport where the playing field is level for all competitors involved. That our fighters deserve the proper medical treatment before, after, and in-between fights.
As for Nate Marquardt, love him or hate him you can’t help but admire the fact that he did the right thing and publicly addressed his situation. He didn’t have to make his appearance on the MMA Hour and we could have played this guessing game forever. Regardless of what has happened so far, we can’t take away the fact that he is one of the most accomplished fighters this sport has ever seen. Time heals all wounds, whether he fights for the UFC again or not he’ll have a job somewhere doing what he loves once again.
This situation should also open the eyes of commissions for our sport everywhere. We need re-evaluate what kind of treatments or hormone levels should be acceptable. Or should it be Olympic style, zero tolerance? The livelihood of our fighters is at stake. The reputation of our growing sport is on the line too. We need to have clear guidelines and regulations to help give the sport of Mixed Martial Arts the respect it truly deserves.
Don’t be shy and give me your two cents in the comment box. Agree? Disagree? Pull no punches and let’s take this discussion further.
Photo: Anderson Silva, bottom, fights Nate Marquardt during UFC 73 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA on July 7, 2007. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
Another possible reason for low testosterone is that his body got stuffed up when he took PEDs on the previous occasion. Good reason to get back on the juice.
The commissions have to make extremely strict (zero tolerance) and most importantly clear rules when it comes to things like these. This isn't baseball, this is MMA, where two consenting adults get in a ring and try to damage each other.
Honestly guys who get caught with any type of performance enhancers are lucky they don't get charged criminally IMO. Even in other pro sports where there is not as much physical contact, you are still committing fraud in a way, putting up numbers you shouldn't be and getting more money from better contracts. The commissions, leagues, media and public should have no sympathy or tolerance for anyone.
Uhh sure, whatever floats their boats.
I think this is proof that the bigger built fighters who cut a lot of weight to make the lower weight classes in order to gain the biggest advantage they can are pushing their bodies too far and there is obviously a heavy price to pay. Nate should of stayed at MW imo, i'm suprised that the UFC for cut him straight away though instead of just keeping him out for a year or two or untill he finishes whatever treatment he is undergoing, surely there was another alternative. A bit cruel if you ask me considering it's a medical condition.....
Dana definitely overreacted and almost seemed like he had something personal against Nate to have such strong feelings. I thought it would be something much more serious based on his reaction, when in actuality it isn't any different from Chael Sonnen's case.
Although I will say... From the training I've done myself and the things I've heard, it's very unfortunate but I believe the reality is that almost every fighter takes some form of steroid, or testosterone enhancing drug/supplement, they just cycle off of them before the fight and/or testing so that all of the residual effects and benefits are still present in the body.
I don't doubt that there are some fighters with hormonal deficiencies, but I honestly think majority of the time HRT is used as an excuse to bend the rules and cheat fairly. Almost like you're going to steal from a bank, but first you're gonna let the police know, which makes it OK. You can't steal more than $5, but when they're not looking you can take as much as you want and no one can regulate it or prove otherwise.
I'd go as far as saying... It's more than likely over 90% of Mixed Martial Artists use PED's, which is why at the end of the day, I don't really care anymore because the playing field ends up evening itself out. Cause realistically if both fighters are jacked on roids, then there aren't any unfair advantages or disadvantages.
It's a controversial topic but I'd love to get everyone's take on it...
you got a point virtually everyone in pride juiced and it didnt seem to bother anyone
should be Zero tolerance, if their not training for a fight then go ahead and get your T levels nice and even but when a fight is schedule even if you have to train for 2 months then no more treatment
I have to agree with this. I like Nate but I can't defend him. I don't think its fair to take testosterone regardless of the situation. If your levels are low, then you should fight that way especially if its because you are the one causing it yourself.
Take that pic down. Now!
I have a lot of mixed feelings about the subject. I do believe that TRT could benefit someone's life, but if you are a professional athlete it could possibly give you an edge in performance. But with more and more cases in pro sports in general, it seems like more and more are doing it.
I don't think we'll ever come to a conclusion to this topic because every commission and governing bodies in this sport treat situations different. The only way things could change, is if we have a universal set of rules and regulations that all commissions abide by.
just ban it then the discussion is over
I think he got axed cause its the second time he was caught taking a band substance
What is being missed here, I think, is the issue of fighter health.
As I mentioned in a previous article, the weight game is played by most UFC fighters--where they lose 10 to 25 pounds at weigh-in, only to regain it in 24 hours.
Fighters and pro athletes look for any edge they can get--if they can get away with it. TRT is a legal way to juice. According to standard endocrinolgy, men who excercise have higher testostrone levels than those who do not.
The statement
"a very common reason for low testosterone levels can be due to “sweaty” activities like hard training or weight-cutting"
is ludicrous.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/291299-testosterone-and-weight-loss/
Losing weight and excercising is scienfically proven to increase testostrone levels!
Using probability statistics, athletes should have a smaller likelihood of low testostrone conditions--unless they have used PED's in the past.
This gets back to the health issue. Unless the line is drawn on weight cutting and on TRT--fighters will harm themselves with diuretics and PED's.
BTW: If an athlete screws up his natural production of testosterone by taking PED's or by dangerous crash water diets--that's tough tittie for them.
Literally.