FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST Opinion & Analysis : Hyden's Take HYDEN BLOG: PED Use Didn't Cause Brock's Illness

Nov 17, 2009 - 12:57:05 PM
By Frank Hyden, MMATorch Contributor

I talked to a doctor friend of mine, and consulted WebMD, in order to study up a bit on diverticulitis. I had a relative who was diagnosed with this condition several years ago, and I was curious to see if there had been any new treatments or techniques in the recent years. The good news is that it's very possible to live a normal life, albeit with a few lifestyle changes. Obviously, there's no way to tell how Brock's fighting life will be affected, but the fact that he's had surgery means that it was a severe case. Only about 5% of patients with diverticulitis need surgery. Doctors aren't certain what causes diverticulitis, but a low-fiber diet may be one of the factors.

I personally believe that Brock Lesnar has used, and is probably still using, PED's (Performance-Enhancing Drugs). Note- This opinion does not represent the views of anyone else at MMATorch.com. This is my opinion, and my opinion only. I want to make that clear, I don't speak for anyone else or any of the other writers. Having said that, I'm not one of those guys who thinks people who use PED's should be thrown in jail or something. The definition of what makes a PED isn't even clear, though. Vitamins and supplements aren't considered PED's, but some agencies consider caffeine to be a PED? I'm getting off-topic, though. This is a subject for another time, it can be a very heated subject because there's a lot to debate. For the record, I think a lot of athletes, I would say a majority, are using PED's of some nature. Before you bash me, though, keep in mind that the definition of what constitutes a PED is nebulous.

My point is that there's essentially a 0% chance that Brock's diverticulitis was caused by steroids or other PED's. If PED's caused diverticulitis, then we'd see a lot more cases in athletes. I think this is a case where a guy got an inflammation or infection in his colon. Brock should be able to resume a relatively normal life. How this will affect his fighting career is unknown at this time. I think Brock will be able to come back from this. I don't know if he'll be able to resume the form he once had, only time can tell us that. I'm hoping he makes a full recovery, he's a polarizing figure that brings visibility to MMA.

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