Penick's Take
PENICK: Until widespread acceptance of performance enhancing drugs, commissions should not allow for testosterone replacement therapy for fighters
Jun 28, 2011 - 11:05:53 PM PENICK: Until widespread acceptance of performance enhancing drugs, commissions should not allow for testosterone replacement therapy for fighters

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The debate about performance enhancing drugs is one that continues to rage on in all sports, and is back to the forefront in MMA with Nate Marquardt's admission that he has been on testosterone replacement therapy since August of 2010.

There is a segment that argues that doctor monitored and responsible use of performance enhancing drugs should be widespread. The argument is that by utilizing certain steroids and human growth hormone, athletes can better recover from injuries, train harder and perform at a level above and beyond what would be capable without the enhancement.

Of course, there are dangers to the usage of any of these drugs, and they are all too often used in excess, but in an age in sports where equipment is constantly improved and rules tweaked and changed to the advantage of different styles, there is something to be said about allowing for the advancement of athletes with the latest in scientific advancements.

But right now, in 2011, performance enhancing drugs are not allowed in MMA competition, and because of that fact, commissions should not be allowing testosterone replacement therapy.

The utilization of TRT as an acceptable means for using an otherwise banned substance in competition is a massive loophole for fighters, and in seeing the situations of both Chael Sonnen and Nate Marquardt in the last year, there are clear examples of it not being used for the proper means.

Sonnen got popped for elevated levels of testosterone after his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva and Marquardt has now failed to have his levels within acceptable range for both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even if they have a legitimate medical need for testosterone, the therapy is supposed to bring their levels to a normal range.

With each testing above the acceptable levels, it raises serious red flags. It's entirely plausible that both fighters could be using prescribed testosterone as a performance enhancer, with the plan to cycle their regimens to test within the correct levels for their fights. In both of their cases, it's again entirely plausible that they simply got caught.

There are a lot of possible reasons that a person could develop low testosterone, but it's extremely uncommon in young men, and is especially questionable for high level professional athletes to develop naturally.

This isn't an accusation, but by both fighters testing above normal levels it makes for the reasonable assumption that they used the help of questionable doctors to attempt to get away with using performance enhancing substances. Even if that's not the case, the perception of impropriety is enough to cloud any legitimate uses the treatment might have when the drugs being used are not otherwise allowed.

The unfortunate reality is that a large segment of all professional athletes are currently using banned substances, and testing on a wide level is far behind the science of the enhancers. But commissions can't allow fighters to use TRT when there is a very real possibility it's simply been used as a method of openly using. Until the sports landscape changes, the best course of action would be to close current loopholes in place.