Belfort, Sonnen, Henderson and Pezão were some of the TRT users. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS Production (Disclosure/UFC)
One of the most important changes in the recent history of MMA celebrates its first anniversary. On February 27, 2014, the Nevada Athletic Commission officially banned testosterone replacement therapy, TRT, a practice that had generated much controversy and discussion.
TRT is a treatment applied to patients who have low natural production of testosterone, one of the main male hormones. After detecting the problem through examinations, the practice consists of applying the hormone to the body so that the level is equivalent to that of a healthy adult.
See too
Many athletes who used the treatment claimed to suffer from hypogonadism, which, in men, causes the testicles to malfunction. According to doctors, low testosterone in the body causes several unwanted effects, such as lack of energy, mood changes, difficulty gaining muscle and a greater tendency to accumulate fat in the body.
However, in MMA, the subject was never very well accepted. Athletes who used TRT, such as Vitor belfort, Chael Sonnen e alistair overeem, were often criticized by other fighters, as one of the possible causes of low testosterone in the body is the abuse of anabolic steroids in the past. Belfort, who has been caught in a doping test in the past, was one of the most attacked targets.
The situation reached an unsustainable level when Belfort himself, when preparing to challenge Chris Weidman for the UFC belt, he was caught in a surprise doping test with high levels of testosterone in his body. This episode generated a series of events that culminated in the total ban on TRT by the Nevada Commission, an entity that serves as a model for the various commissions that regulate MMA events on the planet.
The ban caused a rush among athletes and required a series of adjustments on the part of those who used the treatment. Some fights were cancelled, other fighters have not performed in the same way since then and others have not even returned to action. O SUPER FIGHTS recalls what changed for the main characters in this story.
The target of questions, Belfort has not yet fought post-TRT
Interestingly, the main character when it comes to TRT in MMA has not yet felt the effects of the treatment ban. Vitor belfort He hasn't performed in the Octagon since then, and the level at which he will perform upon his return is one of the biggest question marks for sports fans.
When TRT was banned, Belfort had a fight scheduled against Chris Weidman for May 2014. However, due to the proximity of the fight to the end of treatment, the Brazilian was replaced by his compatriot Lyoto Machida, who ended up being defeated by the middleweight champion. Belfort, who had been caught in a drug test earlier that year, was awaiting his trial to find out when he could return to active duty.
Belfort's last fight, with TRT, was in November 2013. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
At a commission hearing, Belfort was acquitted under certain conditions, including being subjected to several surprise anti-doping tests and not being able to fight until December 2014. That was when the Brazilian had his fight against Weidman at UFC 181 rescheduled, in the last month of the year. past. However, due to the American's injury, the fight ended up being rescheduled for UFC 184, which takes place next weekend. The champion was injured again and postponed the fight until May, at UFC 187.
Belfort's physical form since the TRT ban is the subject of discussions and debates among fans around the world. As much as the Brazilian declare that you do not feel weakened by the change, his coach at the Blackzilians academy, Henri Hooft, admitted that he saw Belfort with more muscles at the time of treatment. The answers will be given on May 23rd, when the “Phenomenon” will finally have the chance to show his post-TRT performance in the octagon.
Prohibition paved the way for Sonnen's retirement
Another TRT user, the controversial Chael Sonnen, saw his MMA career come to an end with the ban on treatment in the sport. When he had a fight scheduled at UFC 175, in July 2014, the loud-mouthed North American failed a doping test with excess testosterone even though replacement treatment had already been banned.
At the time, Sonnen justified the use of the hormone and stated that it helped him with his daily tasks. Furthermore, the American declared, at the time, that he was undergoing treatment to impregnate his wife. Shortly afterwards, a new anti-doping test was carried out and showed that, in fact, the hole was much lower. Sonnen was caught with several banned substances and received a two-year suspension. Cornered, the North American admitted to cheating and announced his retirement from the sport.
Henderson still doesn't know what it's like to win post-TRT
the veteran Dan Henderson In just a few months, he felt both sides of the coin with the ban on TRT. At the time the Nevada Commission's decision was announced, the “thick old man” already had a fight scheduled for shortly afterwards, in March, when he would face Mauritius Shogun at UFC in Natal (RN). Precisely because of the proximity of the attraction, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission gave the North American authorization to continue with the treatment for one last time.
In the fight in the Brazilian Northeast, Henderson suffered at the hands of the Curitiba native, who came close to knocking him out on two occasions. However, in the third round, Henderson landed his dangerous right hand, achieving a seemingly unlikely victory by technical knockout. Just two months later, Henderson was back in the UFC octagon again. The experienced would face Daniel Cormier at UFC 173, in Las Vegas (USA), no longer able to use therapy.
Hendo's last victory, against Shogun, was with TRT. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
The first sign of change was seen right at the weigh-in. “Hendo” weighed 90,2 kg, far from the weight limit of the category, 93 kg, and 1,5 kg less than what he reached in his fight against Shogun. In the fight itself, Henderson was completely dominated by Cormier, who finished him in classic fashion in the third round.
Given the huge difference in size seen in the fight against Cormier, “Hendo” decided to move back down to the middleweight category. The fight that marked his return to the under-84 kg division was in January, at UFC on FOX 14, against Gegard Mousasi. The North American was once again unable to return to his old form and ended up losing by technical knockout just a minute into the fight, falling after taking a blow that he could easily handle in the past. At 44 years old, and the oldest athlete in the UFC, Henderson has not yet decided whether he will retire or not.
Pezão and Mir: two sides of the same coin
The main fight of the UFC in Porto Alegre (RS), last Sunday (22), featured Antonio Pezão e Frank mir, two fighters who used TRT in the past. And the result of the fight showed that the ban can have completely different effects on the athletes' bodies.
Pezão, who suffers from acromegaly, began using TRT in his fight against Mark Hunt, at the end of 2013. In that fight, considered one of the most exciting of that year, Pezão showed a lot of physical resistance and absorbed blows, in addition to having performed at a pace considered high for the heavyweight division. Shortly afterwards, the fighter was caught in an anti-doping test with high doses of testosterone, caused by the inadequate use of replacement treatment.
Thus, Pezão was suspended for nine months, returning to the UFC in Brasília, in September 2014. Without TRT, Pezão was quickly knocked out by Andrei Arlovski. Shortly afterwards, another knockout in Brazil, against Frank mir. Despite the devastating defeats, Pezão states that he is still in full physical condition to continue competing.
With Mir, the story was different. Also a TRT user, the North American had not been in good shape in his last fights, suffering four consecutive defeats. In the first fight after the treatment was banned, Mir was agile and strong.
Committee work continues intense after ban
Anyone who thought that the work of athletic commissions would be easier with the ban on testosterone replacement therapy was wrong. Last year, with the end of TRT in MMA, the Nevada entity continued to go further and further intensified anti-doping tests, carrying out surprise tests on some of the UFC's main fight athletes.
During this period, names such as Jon Jones, Anderson Silva e Hector Lombard, as well as several other lesser-known athletes. As a result, the UFC decided to further increase supervision and should intensify testing in the coming months.
[vox id=”26111″]
Comments