Sonnen fails drug test, off of UFC 175

At most, these drugs would get Chael's natural testosterone production back in the normal range for men. I don't know where he'd naturally be at this point if he never started TRT, but he won't get back to that point. He'd "naturally" have close to zero testosterone now if he just quit TRT without the right recovery drugs. Being on TRT for years pretty much guarantees you'll need it for life. Exogenous testosterone shuts down your natural testosterone production almost completely. The longer you're shut down, the less likely it becomes that you'll ever be able to produce normal amounts of testosterone naturally.

TRT obviously gave Chael an advantage as a fighter. Drugs like clomid, arimidex, and HCG wouldn't give him an advantage. Just a small chance at getting back to normal without TRT. It's really not worth coming off. He won't be an elite fighter now, and he won't enjoy all the benefits of high testosterone levels in his personal life. He should just retire as a fighter so he can stay on for life. I doubt he needs the money anymore.

 

So, he was on TRT because he had a medical condition.
A medical-use exemption was approved.
TRT elevated his testosterone to ridiculously cheating levels and for some reason he had the best run of his mma career and made lots of money.
Then, when he couldn't use TRT anymore, he had an alternative that he could turn to that would get his body back to producing its own testosterone at normal levels.
Of course, why would that have been his preferred course in the first place?

 

So the short answer to my question is "Yes".

These drugs would elevate Sonnen's testosterone beyond were it would naturally be, right now. I'm not asking whether they give him an advantage.

The ironically poetic thing about TRT is that it creates the symptom it is being used to treat if you stop the "therapy". I see that as justice being served when it comes to guys like Sonnen that used the guise of hypogonadism as a way to cheat for years.

 

If Chael really wanted to continue as a pro fighter, he would need these drugs temporarily to attempt to restart his natural test production. It should only be a temporary thing, a few months at most. It would be fair to expect him to be 100% clean and off these drugs at the time of the fight.

I'm on TRT myself by choice. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. It has improved every aspect of my life, personally and professionally. I'm in my late 30s, and I'm in better shape than most guys half my age. I have the sex drive of a teenager again. I'm not cheating, obviously, because I'm not a competitive athlete.

 

He had a great run as a fighter. He accomplished more than I ever expected from him after his early fights. I was shocked to see him beat Marquardt, much less come within a minute of beating Anderson Silva. He seems like he has a great future ahead of him as a commentator / analyst. He's in a much better situation personally compared to most fighters at the time they have to retire from the sport.

 

Right, but due in part to him being a cheating piece of shit.

As a side note, just being at acceptable levels at fight time is, of course, far from sufficient. A cheater should have to prove that he has remained cheat-free for a long time, long enough that the benefits from cheating are minimized greatly if not altogether. He should also be responsible for paying for this proof.

 

He's retiring now, so it doesn't matter for him anymore. Everything will be more fair now that TRT won't be allowed in the sport. People will still try to cheat, but some of that could be prevented with stricter drug testing. Between fights too, not just on fight night. Mandatory 1 or 2 year suspensions seem fair for people caught taking performance enhancing drugs.

Nobody should be suspended or banned for weed, but that's a different issue.

 

TRT is stupid as hell, and you'll probably have heart problems in your 50s.

 

I agree with everything except the last part. If you're busted for PED's, I support an immediate lifetime ban.

I would, however, distinguish PED's and allow Nick Diaz to fight while high on weed.

 

Just because he's claiming to retire, doesn't mean he will or will stay retired.

When it comes to weed, I suppose I could support a token penalty like $500 or so just to help pay for testing and because I get the argument that performance decreasing drugs should be discouraged, but I really don't think they need to be tested for.

 

That's what I was going to say. Heart problems come from abusing testosterone or from not keeping estrogen levels in range. TRT from a good doctor can actually extend the average lifespan while improving quality of life. Men with high / normal testosterone levels have lower rates of heart disease than men with low test.

Even if it was going to shorten my life a little, I'd still do it. The difference in quality of life is like night and day.

 

Seems like a bullshit excuses from Sonene, from what I know, you take these post cycle drugs for 1 month after your cycle. And since when he's supposed to have quit his TRT therapy, something like one year ? Then why is he still on it and why would he have signed for a fight when he was on it ? My guess is that he was in fact using it because he had just comploeted another cycle.

 

Not necessarely, some PED window of opportunity to detect is very short once you stop taking them. Like less than a week.

 

And I'm not expert on the subject , but does someone knows if these could be used as a masking agent ? I know a drug like Propecia (for haiir loss) was banned (not sure of his status now) because it could be used to as a masking agent.

 

Like he didn't knew it was agains the rules :doh:. And as I said, I never heard of someone using post cycle drugs for more than 1 month. I'm not assuming to be an expert or anything, but knowing Sonnen past, I'd find it much more belivable that he was still in fact using.

 

And to be honest, I think you have to be really naive (and that's being kind) to believe Sonnen really suffers from hypogonadism as he claims. A top level wrestler built like a mini hulk but he's had congenital low test ??? If he really suffers form low test, I'd bet my left hand it's from reapeated steroids abuse.

 

THen how come did the UFC didn't knew about it ?

 

That's great. So how do you describe the hgh and epo that he also failed the test for?

 

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/2...cond-drug-test-tests-positive-for-hgh-and-epo

 

He got caught cheating. Again. Testing positive for arimidex and clomid wasn't cheating when he was coming off TRT. This time it's different.

It doesn't really matter if he's retired for good. They won't be drug testing commentators or analysts anytime soon.

 

If the UFC had any integrity they would fire him from his analyst post.

What other sport glorifies a multiple time cheater like this?

Most of them are disgraced from their respective sports.