Website reveals that Belfort fought in the UFC in 2012 even after presenting an irregular exam

V. Belfort (photo) faced Jones and lost in 2012. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

A report can put Vitor belfort and the UFC is once again at the center of controversy over doping in MMA. The North American website “Deadspin” revealed that the Brazilian presented an irregular test a few days before the fight he had against Jon Jones, in 2012, and was still released for the fight, which he ended up losing by submission.

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On September 1, 2012, that is, exactly three weeks before the fight, Belfort provided samples to the LabCorp laboratory in Las Vegas (USA). The result showed that the fighter had a high level of free testosterone, with 41,7 picograms per milliliter – and, according to the same test, the maximum allowed for a man of his age is 25,1 pg/mL.

However, the test ended up being spread by mistake by the UFC, which sent the results by email to a group of 29 fighters, managers and coaches. Days later, the organization's legal executive sent another message to the group asking for the email to be immediately deleted, as it contained personal information about Belfort.

The “Deadspin” report tried to hear from the UFC why the fighter was still being released to fight, but received no response. Belfort was also contacted, but did not speak out.

Timothy Trainor, medical advisor to the Nevada Athletic Commission, which regulates all MMA events held in Las Vegas, said a normal person should not have the results seen in Belfort's exam. “That would not be acceptable. If any of these levels were above normal, it should be a warning sign,” he said. UFC 152, in which Belfort lost to Jones, took place in Toronto, Canada, outside the jurisdiction of the Nevada Commission.

Belfort has a controversial record when it comes to anti-doping tests. The fighter was caught auditioning in 2006, shortly after losing to Dan Henderson, when the substance 4-hydroxytestosterone, an anabolic steroid, was detected in his body.

In February 2014, Belfort presented testosterone levels above those allowed in a surprise test by the Nevada Commission, while trying to be released to fight Chris Weidman. At the time, the fighter was a fan of TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), something that ended up being banned from MMA shortly afterwards.

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