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We asked MMATorch readers on Tuesday the following question: Why do you think Dan Henderson's TRT use is not scrutinized as heavily as other fighters who have been outed as TRT users? Here is the first batch of responses.
Raja S. (via email): The reason Hendo's TRT use is not getting the attention a fighter like Vitor Belfort is simple. With Hendo's age and the wars he's been in, not to mention his long and successful wrestling career, sort of makes up for the reasons of why he NEEDS TRT, not why he deserves it.
He's had a clean record of passed drug tests and I'm assuming he stays within the levels. Another huge reason is the fact that his performances in fights have been the same over his illustrious career (although he's improved his striking tremendously) he doesn't appear to have drastically improved game after the use of TRT, ala Vitor Belfort.
Another reason I can see is his age. At over the age of 40 plus all the trauma and weight cuts he's done, he can very well make the case of why he absolutely needs TRT. Remember, steroids and PEDs do negatively affect your test levels, but so does getting punched in the head over a course of 15+ years.
And lastly one of the most compelling reasons for a casual fan to not look at Hendo's use of TRT is because he doesn't look like a super human. He doesn't have much muscle definition, in fact, he doesn't look at all different that the Dan Henderson of 10 years ago (TRT is helping him maintain that muscle mass) whereas you see guys like Vitor and Overeem, both of whom, after the use of testosterone, have looked absolutely shredded.
So those are some of the reasons I give in defense of Dan Henderson and his use of TRT.
Abe M. (via Facebook): Vitor has had a lot of success lately and the media has beat him up about it there is no difference in him than Hendo just the way the media treated it.
Mark G. (via Facebook): Vitor has used steroids since his 20's so he screwed up his own system & his body shows it. Henderson was never massively huge or shredded & never failed his drug tests as Vitor has a couple times (when in the US) & he also fought in Japan for a real long time where they dont drug test while being SUPER HUGE. That says it all.
MMATorch Forum User Johnwaynebjj2: It's simple. Who fights frequently, wins, and wins in big fashion? Belfort. Vitor Belfort is the reason Hendo hasn't been scrutinized as much. Vitor has also been in trouble before. If Dan had been healthy and kept winning like vitor we would probably be hearing just as much attention about it.
Trey W. (via email): Why isn't Dan Henderson scrutinized as much as others for his TRT use? There is a very simple and straight-to-the-point answer. Dan Hendo has never failed a drug test. He has no negative stigma surrounding him as a cheater. Dan Hendo is also on the wrong side of 40 years of age, unlike others in their 30s claiming to be "dangerously low" in the testosterone department. These facts alone make it a little easier, for me at least, to swallow the fact that Hendo may legitimately need TRT. But then I say, what fighter truly NEEDS TRT?
I'd be willing to bet that there is not a SINGLE professional fighter who has legitimately dangerous low levels of testosterone. Let's not even begin to point out that the allowed max ratio of t to e under NSAC is 6:1 (maybe recently changed to 4:1, if I remember correctly). These caps are numbers meant to represent the EXTREMES of normal testosterone levels in an adult male. As it is far from the norm for a man to walk around with 4:1 ratio. This is just setting a level that says "hey, you guys can cheat (Dan Hendo included), but you can only cheat THIS much."
As has been said by countless others, "If your testosterone is so dangerously low that you require TRT to live a normal life, perhaps your time as a fighter is up."
[Dan Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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