UFC
NSAC votes to grant UFC's Chael Sonnen therapeutic use exemption for TRT
May 21, 2012 - 6:20:24 PM NSAC votes to grant UFC's Chael Sonnen therapeutic use exemption for TRT

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

For the first time in the four years he's been undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, Chael Sonnen now has commission approval for the treatment.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission approved on Monday a therapeutic use exemption for TRT that Sonnen applied for recently, and his Middleweight Championship rematch on July 7 with Anderson Silva will go ahead as planned.

Sonnen appeared in front of the commission to answer questions regarding his TRT treatment, which began with a diagnosis of hypogonadism in 2008. The NSAC's medical advisor had issues with the original diagnoses, and said that Sonnen suffers from secondary hypogonadism, not primary as has been alleged for some time, but nevertheless he had not way to determine what initially caused the condition, and advised that a TUE could be granted.

In the midst of questioning, Sonnen also admitted to falsifying information on his pre-fight questionnaires for several fights, blaming information given him by his manager at the time in claiming that his TRT had been approved by NSAC executive director Keith Kizer.

Ultimately, Sonnen's TRT use will come with some provisions for this bout with Silva. The NSAC set out a requirement that he'll need to get a blood test the morning after the fight to determine that his serum levels of testosterone are within acceptable ranges, and they'll have a restriction on his injections of the treatment during fight week.

Penick's Analysis: I'm not surprised he was granted the TUE at this time. The Commission has been very lenient on past discretions for other fighters before, and with a slight recommendation by their own doctor and slightly stricter requirements for the treatment they're going to let him go forward. If Sonnen now has any issues with elevated levels, it will be completely on him and he will be held accountable, but for now the NSAC decided to roll the dice with him and this event on July 7.

[Chael Sonnen art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]