Vitor Belfort Would Stop Using TRT For A MW Title Shot, Go In At A ‘Disadvantage’

5992593561 586164172c zDespite mowing down foes left and right this year, Vitor Belfort isn’t getting the respect that he feels he deserves. A lot of that probably has to do with his well-publicized use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Belfort reportedly uses the stuff to compensate for his body not being to keep up with the massive drain it receives from his strenuous training regimen.

That may definitely be the case, but many also believe that Belfort’s body isn’t producing the testosterone it should because of his past indiscretions involving anabolic steroids. He failed a drug test while under the Pride banner in 2006, prompting NSAC commissioner Keith Kizer to clarify that Belfort won’t likely ever be licensed to fight in Las Vegas if he’s on TRT.

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Ouch. “The Phenom” has been mainly resigned to fighting in his home country of Brazil in the meantime. The therapy has worked wonders for the ageless Belfort, but he spoke up to UOL Esporte (translated from Portuguese by MMA Fighting) to declare he’ll ditch the TRT if he can get another shot at the UFC middleweight belt:

“I’ve already said that, if they agree with it, I would (stop doing TRT). No problem at all. If they want me to get there in a disadvantage, that’s ok. But they already told me that’s not the problem. UFC told me, ‘You can’t go in there with a disadvantage.’ The thing is, I’m in normal testosterone levels with TRT. That’s the treatment. People don’t seem to understand that I’m the only guy that does blood tests. Many fighters don’t do this, many use illegal stuff and are not tested like I am. I’m tested all the time. Week after week, month after month. I have to keep the levels normal to make it fair.”

It’s highly up for debate if Belfort would be at a disadvantage without TRT if he were to face the winner of UFC 168’s Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva rematch. Belfort has stated that he’ll only cut down to 185 for a chance at the belt.

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It’s going to be hard to prove that Belfort is actually at a disadvantage without his therapy. You’d have to test the T:E levels of his opponent and compare them, and go from there. I just don’t see that happening.

Even if it were ‘unfair,’ the general consensus would be that Belfort simply needs TRT because he ravaged his body using illegal steroids in the past. He seems to think he is the most highly tested fighter and does everything by the books. Do you agree with him?

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