Steroid Use Plagues The MMA

Steroid Use Plagues The MMA

by Catherine Winn

Since the beginning of time when competitions became sports its members have been looking for the "edge" to win. Although there are many avenues here, such as training techniques, improved conditioning and cardio, diet and supplementation, it all boils down to the fact that drugs are heavily used. From 2001 to the present there are 31 reported cases of steroid use. This includes Strikeforce, EliteXC, Affliction, WEC, Femme Fatale Fighting, and the UFC. Some of these fighters are well known, others are not.

All steroids help with recovery. They are also used for building lean muscle mass. Many
of these steroids are taken together for an optimum effect. This is called stacking, which is something that you usually associate with bodybuilding or physique contests for a lean, muscularlook. Some steroids increase collagen production. Others simply increase strength. To simplify, not everyone who uses steroids looks like "the Hulk". Lance Armstrong (a well known cyclist) used steroids. He had a very lean body. Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees baseball team used steroids. There is also a down side to using these drugs. Side effects include fits of rage,violent behaviors, depression, acne, male pattern baldness, high blood pressure, arteriosclerotic heart disease, high cholesterol (LDL), gynecomastia (men develop breasts), decreased testosterone, decreased libido, and decreased testicular size to name a few things. Steroids effect several organs such as the liver,which breaks down the drug and the heart.

Josh Barnett first was tested positive for steroids in 2001. He was found with 2 different steroids in his system, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission let him off and didn't charge him. It did however, start the ball rolling for random drug testing of MMA events. He is a repeat offender. His second offense was 4/22/02 after UFC 36. He tested positive for boldenone (for building lean body mass), nandrolone (increased collagen speeds recovery) and fluoxymesterone (for strength gain). He lost his UFC heavyweight title and was suspended for 6 months by NSAC. His third offense happened just this year 7/21/09 just 11 days prior to his fight against Fedor Emilianenko in Affliction: Trilogy. He tested positive for drostanolone (for getting that lean look of no body fat). He caused the collapse of Affliction and will never be licensed to fight again in the United States.

Tim Silvia tested positive 10/7/03 after UFC 44 for stanozolol, other wise known as winstrol (for muscle growth and lean body look). He voluntarily vacated his heavyweight title, was fined $10,000 and was suspended for 6 months by NSAC.

Kimo Leopoldo at UFC 48 on 8/16/04 was found positive for stanozolol (for muscle growth and lean body look). He was fined $5,000 and given a 6 month suspension by the NSAC. He also is a repeat offender. On 7/20/06 he was pulled from a match against Bas Rutten at WFA King Of The Streets. This time he received no punishment.

Nate Marquart on 8/15/05 was positive for nandrolone (for recovery) at Ultimate Fight Night1. He had no fine but was suspended. The suspension was lifted when 2 follow up tests turned out to be negative. He blamed a supplement he was taking from MaxMuscle.

Vitor Belfort on 10/26/06 tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone (for building muscle mass). This was at Pride 32. He was fined $10,000 and was suspended for 9 months by the NSAC. He also blamed a supplement he had been taking called Max Tribo Stak from MaxMuscle. This supplement becomes a steroid when it is metabolized by the body.
Pawel Nastula tested positive at Pride 32 10/26/06 for nandrolone (for recovery). He was fined $6,500 and suspended for 9 months by the NSAC.

Stephan Bonnar at UFC 62 8/26/06 tested positive for boldenone (for bulking up, lean muscle mass building and cutting cycles). He claimed he was desperate because of an elbow injury. He was fined $5,000 and suspended for 9 months by the NSAC.

Kit Cope on 1/25/07 was tested positive for boldenone (for bulking up, lean muscle mass building and cutting cycles). This WEC 25 fighter was fined $1,167. The NSAC suspended him for 9 months.

Johnnie Morton tested positive for increased testosterone on 6/13/07 at an event called Dynamite USA. He was fined $2,500 with an indefinite suspension from the California State Athletic Commission. His purse of $100,00 was also held.

Royce Gracie during Dynamite USA on 6/14/07 tested positive for naldrolone (for speeding recovery). He was fined $2,500 by the CSAC and was suspended for one year.

Jorge Ortiz on 6/26/07 tested positive at Total Combat 21 for naldrolone (for recovery). He was fined $2,500 by the CSAC and received a 1 year suspension.

Phil Baroni at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni on 7/7/07 tested positive for 2 drugs,
boldenone (for bulking up and building lean muscle mass) and stanozolol (for muscle growth and lean body look). He was fined $2,500 and had a 6 month suspension from the CSAC.

Sean Sherk at UFC 73 on 7/19/07 tested positive for nandrolone ( for recovery). His punishment was loss of his light weight UFC title, a fine of $2,500 and a 1 year suspension.
His suspension was later reduced to 6 months when he protested about the accuracy of the testing and use of dirty vials and equipment.

Hermes Franca on 7/19/07 at UFC 73 tested positive for drostanolone also known as dromostan and masteron (used during the cutting cycle to retain strength while losing mass).
Hewas suspended for 1 year and fined $2,500 by the CSAC.

Anthony Torres at UFC 75 tested positive for boldenone (for bulking up and building lean muscle mass). This was a UFC administered test. He lost his contract with UFC.

Bill Mahood at Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion on 10/5/07 tested positive for the drug
drostanolone (for for strength retention while losing body mass). His punishment was a fine of $2,500 and a 1 year suspension by the CSAC.
　
Adam Smith on 10/17/07 was found positive for nandrolone (for recovery) and stanozolol (for muscle growth and lean body look). He also tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. He was fined $4,000 and received a 21 month suspension from the CSAC.

Jason Winthers of Rebel Fighter:Unleashed Fury on 11/19/07 tested positive for
stanzolone( for muscle growth and lean body look) and trenbolone (for building muscle)
and also methadone and morphine. H was suspended 21 months and fined $4,000 by
the CSAC.

Ruben Villareal of WCO Kerr vs. Gavin on 11/28/07 tested positive for a drug called
4-hydroxytestosterone ( for building muscle mass). He was suspended 1 year and fined
$2,500 by the CSAC.

Dennis Hallman on 11/29/07 at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter One Survives tested
positive for drostanolone (for strength retention while losing body mass) and nandrolone
(for speeding recovery). He was fined $2,500 and suspended for 1 yea by the CSAC.

Alexander Crispim of Strikeforce: Four Men Enter One Survives on 11/29/07 tested
positive for desoxymethyltestosterone (causes increase in strength and aggression). He was
fined $2,500 and suspended for 1 year by the CSAC.

Unfortunately even the women fall victim to the allure of the steroid. Carina Damm of Femme Fatale Fighting 4 on 5/15/08 tested positive for nandrolone ( for speedy recovery). She
was suspended by the CSAC for 1 year and fined $2,500.

Alexander Noguiera of WEC34 on 7/7/08 tested positive for boldenone (for bulking and building lean muscle mass). The CSAC fined him $2,500 and gave him a 1 year suspension.

Antonio Silva on 8/21/08 of Elite XC: Unfinished Business tested positive for the drug
boldenone (for bulking up and building lean muscle). He was fined $2,500 and received a one year suspension from the CSAC. According to his representative he may have had a false reading on a test. He suffers from acromegaly, otherwise known as giantism. This disease is a disorder of the pituitary gland of the brain. It is characterized by elongated facial bones and jaw and elongated limbs. Positive testing may have occurred because of his taking another prescription drug known as Novadex.

Edwin Dewees of Affliction: Banned on 8/21/08 tested positive for nandrolone (for
recovery). He was fined $2,500 and given a 1 year suspension by the CSAC.

Chris Leben of UFC 89 on 11/3/08 tested positive for stanozolol (for muscle growth and lean body look). His punishment was loss of 1/3 of his fight purse and a 9 month suspension.

Kirill Sidelnikov on 3/3/09 at Affliction: Day Of Recovery tested positive for stanzolol
(for muscle growth and lean body look). He was fined $2,500 and suspended 1 year by CSAC.

Ken Shamrock fighting for War Gods Valentines Eve Massacre on 3/11/09 tested
positive for 3 drugs; 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiochololone( for muscle growth and recovery) and stanozolol (for muscle growth and lean body look). He was fined $2,500 and
suspended for 1 year by the CSAC. His brother Frank Shamrock has stated that Ken has used steroids "his whole life.."

Cole Province on 8/17/09 at WEC 42 tested positive for methasterone (for building muscle mass). The NSAC fined him $4,000 and suspended him for 9 months.

Because of the reality that MMA fighters fight hard and train hard and DO get HURT
in their profession, temptation of anabolic steroids is always there. The properties of speeding recovery, increasing strength or mass or lean muscle can be desirable (especially when fighting at catch weight bouts ). However, let us not forget that many of these drugs were originally for use with horses and dispensed by veterinary doctors. Arnold Schwarzenegger probably used some of the earlier drugs. Now he has heart disease. Many fighters use HGH or human growth hormone as it is undetectable. It allows for fast recover and increasing muscle mass. Some drugs can be masked at testing. Steroids are a definite problem in the MMA as with all the professional sports. There will always be that drive to be better,bigger, stronger.

I am by profession a Registered Nurse who happens to love MMA. I have good friends who fight in the UFC. I am very well versed in the effects of these drugs on the body and mind.

Hopefully I have given you some insight on what is happening inside the MMA. Next time you watch one of the events and the camera man show the crowd, perhaps you will think to yourself,"I wonder if THEY are on steroids?" It is usually a pretty wild crowd.