Sonnen’s TRT Decision Pushes MMA down a Slippery Slope

By Raphael Garcia

It’s official. Testosterone replacement therapy is here to stay in mixed martial arts. This Tuesday the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen the right to inject himself with testosterone as a treatment for his current medical situation as prescribed by a doctor. Mark the date of May 22, 2012 down as a day of importance in the battle against performance enhancing drugs in mixed martial arts — a battle that the sport may be losing from this point on.

Testosterone replacement therapy is used by individuals who have low registered levels of testosterone. Normal levels have been considered to range between 250 and 800 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter of blood. Age is a major factor in the amount of testosterone that is available in the blood because as males reach their “elder” years, their bodies begin to produce less of the hormone, which means their overall levels will drop. Individuals who participate in strenuous activity, such as training for a mixed martial arts career, are expected to have higher levels of the hormone in their blood due to their activities.

Still, we are seeing an increase in athletes who are leaning on TRT to get them through their medical situations. Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen, Dan Henderson, and recently Alistair Overeem represent some of the more well-known individuals who have pointed towards TRT as the method of choice to combat their reported low levels. These individuals are 33, 35, 41, and 32 years of age respectively. Other than Henderson, each of these individuals can still be considered at the “prime” age of life. So the question that many people are asking comes up: How are these active fighters who are not considered “old” showing up with such low levels of testosterone in their blood?

This is where the whole situation gets murky. Recent medical reports have shown evidence that repeated injury to the brain and pituitary gland can cause low levels of testosterone production. This explanation makes it easily understandable that professional fighters would suffer from this medical condition. They are paid to stand in front of other well-trained fighters and trade blows for extended periods of time…not to mention the amount of sparring time they spend in gyms getting ready for each contest over the course of their careers. Repeated shots to the head are a great way to explain the need for TRT.

However, there may be another factor that contributes to the low levels of testosterone that we are seeing in MMA athletes. Many individuals have taken the stance that PEDs are prevalent in the sport. We continue to see failed tests show up across the sport, and off-the-record statements point towards widespread usage. One aspect of PED usage is that some individuals further damage their bodies by using testosterone masking agents to hide their elevated levels when the time comes for them to be tested. Continued use of these masking agents result in these fighters having to turn to TRT to help regulate their levels back to normal levels. When these fighters do not obtain the medical exemptions needed prior to being tested for upcoming bouts, they find themselves in front of athletic commissions such as the NSAC trying to explain their situations. This past Tuesday, Sonnen was able to do that, and now the door is wide open to swing back and hit the sport of MMA right in the backside.

We remember the outcry that came from Sonnen’s failed test after his first fight with Anderson Silva. Media outlets went back to his past bouts to look for physical evidence of his usage, and Sonnen was linked to drug usage. Silva’s camp went as far as to use that as a talking point for why the challenger did so well against the champion. While truth and speculation isn’t important at this point, one must ask how this ruling will affect the upcoming title fight, as well as those of other fighters in the future.

We’ve heard the argument before, from Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire smashing baseballs over the wall, to Marion Jones and her Olympic exploits. All were torn apart once it was apparent they were cheating the sport and using PEDs to gain an advantage. Now we look to MMA, as fighters are being allowed to use TRT to prepare for their competitions. Yes, their levels are low, but the reason behind why they are isn’t quite known. Should an individual who damaged his body through PED usage be allowed to use TRT to repair his own handiwork? Should the records of these individuals who have been cleared for TRT usage be adorned with the asterisk that so many are calling for within other sports? Where does it stop – are we going to eventually see 29, 28 and even younger fighters claiming a need for TRT in order to be able to compete? These questions are not so far fetched, now that we see what the NSAC has allowed, and will most likely have to allow again, for other fighters due to the precedent it set.

Performance enhancing drugs will never leave the sport of mixed martial arts. Now that it’s seeping all the way down to the amateur level, where fighters are trying to “level the playing field,” it is nearly impossible to find a way to regulate its presence. This is especially true when you have an athletic commission that has created a way out for athletes. Not only did the NSAC allow Sonnen to use TRT as he prepares for his fight with Silva later this summer; it pushed the sport of MMA as a whole down a slippery slope that is bound to only get worse over time.