Breaking news from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who granted Frank Mir a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy prior to his bout with Junior dos Santos. Mir is the latest in a growing number of fighters who are getting testosterone injections, allowing them to have a 6:1 testosterone to epitestosterone ratio under the NSAC guidelines (1:1 is normal). Mir joins Todd Duffee, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, Quinton Jackson, Nate Marquardt, Randy Couture (reportedly), and potentially many other fighters who have figured out a way to extend their careers and essentially cheat the system by getting medical exemptions for testosterone. The UFC runs and hides behind the athletic commission guidelines whenever drugs are brought up so expect Zuffa brass to play dumb and continue to allow fighters on TRT to compete in the UFC. Hilariously, a marijuana recommendation from a medical doctor is not allowed but testosterone injections are.
Is the idea that older guys lose their testosterone and thus need this TRT to compete? Do young MMA fighters tend to have naturally higher testosterone because of their constant training? Seems unfair to young fighters that these old guys are allowed to basically use performance enhancing methods to continue to compete and hold jobs in the UFC when they should naturally have declined already. Another thing about the marijuana/Nick Diaz situation: these guys have exemptions from doctors which allow them to break the rules which everyone else is subject to. Nick Diaz has a prescription for his marijuana yet the NSAC doesn't recognize it? Of course these guys cleared their prescriptions with the NSAC prior to their fights and it seems like Diaz didn't. Dunno what the whole "metabolites" argument is either but it seems like Diaz had a legitimate appeal and they continued to enforce his suspension over some fucking weed (which he was legally allowed to smoke).
All I know is Hendo and Couture are fighting/fought well into their 40's. I really have no issue with TRT.
