Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson Receive TRT Exemptions For Ultimate Fight Night 32

Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson seem to be in the news more for their connection to TRT than for their storied careers, the two veterans are both recipients of therapeutic use exemptions for the controversial treatment and have often come under fire for doing so. News has emerged that both men will receive TRT exemptions for UFN 32.

Belfort is quite often scrutinized more for TRT use, due to the fact that he has failed drugs tests in the past. After testing positive for more testosterone than a University Campus, Belfort was axed from the Zuffa family and fought mainly overseas.

Fast forward to present day and testosterone therapy is common place, Belfort is back in the UFC and will take part in a main event bout where both fighters are receiving testosterone boosts from the doc. The news, which first surfaced at MMAJunkie.com, will put to rest any questions of foul play ahead of the bout, which may have been marred had Henderson been denied a TUE.

Belfort is unable to compete in Las Vegas, the home of the UFC, having been denied a license by the NSAC. The denial was due to his past discrepancies and the fact that he failed his drugs test after a fight in Nevada (Pride 32 vs Hendo) and questions have been asked about whether he should be able to compete using TRT.

A common argument against Belfort’s use is that he only needs it because of his past steroid use. The official reason that ‘The Phenom’ uses TRT is Hypergonadism, something that could be construed as a side effect of aggression in a syringe steroids.

Henderson has never been flagged for illegal steroid/testosterone use and has been a recipient of the therapy under doctor’s orders. The aging legend has naturally decreasing levels of testosterone, although I’m not sure if I agree with TRT use even in this case.

There is something not quite right about extending a fighter’s abilities using a performance enhancing substance, even if it is from natural decline. We’ve had this debate so many times before, but I still stand by my opinion of hanging up the gloves when your body can’t keep up.

So it will be a level playing field at Ultimate Fight Night 32, but will the TRT make a difference for Hendo at 42? He faces a younger and hungrier fighter in Belfort, who will look to use this advantage to maximum effect.