UFC
UFC commentator Joe Rogan says NAC banned TRT because Vitor Belfort failed random drug test in February
Jun 2, 2014 - 3:00:16 PM UFC commentator Joe Rogan says NAC banned TRT because Vitor Belfort failed random drug test in February

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

We're expecting to get some resolution to the Vitor Belfort situation in Nevada later this month, as the middleweight contender will appear in front of the athletic commission in an attempt to get licensed to fight Chael Sonnen at UFC 175.

At the heart of Belfort's license application is a random drug test the commission gave him in February, the results of which have yet to come to light. Will the commission reveal the test result? Will it actually play a part in the decision to license him as it should?

Perhaps not, if comments from UFC commentator Joe Rogan on a recent episode of his podcast are any indication. Though the results of that February test haven't been publicly revealed, Rogan may have let slip what actually happened, when he said the NAC's decision to ban TRT was a direct result of Belfort's February drug test.

"They did it to Vitor... random drug test. And Vitor was on testosterone," Rogan said (transcribed by Brent Brookhouse at BloodyElbow.com). "That's the reason that testosterone got banned in the first place. The whole thing went down when Vitor tested positive with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, after that. Before that, they were considering him for a testosterone exemption... And because he tested positive they scrapped the whole testosterone program."

The argument given for keeping the test result under wraps was because Belfort wasn't applying for a license, and now the argument may be presented that TRT wasn't banned until after that test. We'll find out on June 17.

Penick's Analysis: If that February test is swept under the rug, or passed off as illegitimate because of the TRT ban after the fact, then that's a black eye on the NAC. If he tested positive, then by their own past actions he should be denied for a license and unable to apply again for nine months to a year. That's what happened with Alistair Overeem, and this is the same situation with Belfort. If they don't follow through, then this becomes a more ridiculous situation and a clear cover up of what actually happened in February.