UFC
Dana White says Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva's failed drug test at UFC Fight Night 33 is a cautionary tale for all TRT users
Dec 27, 2013 - 11:15:15 AM Dana White says Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva's failed drug test at UFC Fight Night 33 is a cautionary tale for all TRT users

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva's failed drug test out of UFC Fight Night 33 put an unfortunate negative on what had been a crazy and entertaining fight in Brisbane, Australia earlier this month. The five round war with Mark Hunt thrilled mostly everyone, and UFC President Dana White wasn't happy about the drug test failure.

"It bummed me out. I was bummed out," White said during a media scrum on Thursday following the UFC 168 pre-fight press conference (transcribed by BloodyElbow.com). "I loved that fight so much. I can't remember the last time we saw two heavyweights go at it back and forth like that. It's been a long time. So, I was bummed out."

However, White said the failure should serve as a warning to any fighters in the organization currently utilizing testosterone replacement therapy.

"I told you we test the s*** out of these guys that are on TRT," White said. "We gave him his last test the week of the fight, and he was perfect. He took another shot. It put him over. And what does that extra shot really do for you? What did it really do for you the week of the fight? It destroyed everything.

"Now you don't get the win money. We were giving both guys show and win money, and you won the bonus. Now you lost both your win money and your bonus money, ouch."

"So all you guys out there that are on TRT, and it's legal, you don't want to f*** around and take that shot after you've been tested, there's the consequences. The consequences could not be worse. Now you're on suspension for a year, you lost your win and your bonus money, and I'm sure your sponsors aren't thrilled either. If he didn't take that shot, they would have had the same fight, probably. It's just not worth the risk."

Penick's Analysis: White's comment about Silva's pre-fight test a week out contradicts the claims that he was lower than he was supposed to be. Of course, there have been numerous conflicting statements from Silva and the UFC's liaison doctor in Brazil, Dr. Marcio Tannure. According to Silva, he was told to take shots weekly by Tannure, while Tannure claims he advised, along with Silva's overseeing physician, to take one a week out and that was it. Whatever happened, he took one at the wrong time and it elevated his levels beyond what was accepted, and that just brings up a whole other level of issues with White's comments here. Essentially, TRT remains a legalized form of performance enhancement, so long as you're not caught using too much. That's what White is saying here: we'll let you use this stuff, but if we catch you using too much you're screwed. That may or may not be an effective deterrent to rampant TRT abuse, but it's the reality of the situation into 2014.