We all look for shortcuts. Whether it’s the losers who squeeze toothpaste from the top of the tube or professional athletes injecting artificial testosterone, people game the system.
Thankfully we have controls in place to catch these poor souls. I guard my rolled up tooth paste tube as though it were my last, and we hope that state athletic commissions and the promoters they work with can be trusted to extend the same courtesy.
After reading Josh Gross’ impeccable piece on Vitor Belfort’s drug testing snafu from UFC 152, though, any remaining shred of credibility Zuffa had has now been lost.
For those who may not know, Vitor Belfort (a known steroid abuser) was granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE, if you’re nasty) for testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, ahead of his UFC 152 matchup against Jon Jones.
In other words, a drug addict was given a license to continue to use drugs.
Even with his TUE, though, Belfort tested outside the normal range for testosterone; he was clearly abusing his TRT regimen. These test results were forwarded to the UFC’s legal department, who in turn mistakenly forwarded the sensitive email on to another two dozen people or so.
Those who received the email were perplexed; some disregarded it, or even deleted it without reading the body. Others, though, noticed immediately that this was something not meant for their eyes.
Soon after the first email, a Zuffa paralegal sent a second message, threatening all recipients with legal action if they were to spread Belfort’s bad test around.
Days later, Belfort fought Jones for the light-heavyweight strap and though he was defeated in the end, Belfort nearly snapped Jones’ elbow with an early armbar attempt in the first round.
We can all imagine how different this conversation would be had Belfort captured the title that night, only to later find out he shouldn’t have even been allowed to fight with the amount of testosterone in his system.
This all occurred during MMA’s ill-advised venture down the road of legalized steroid abuse. The athletes that qualified for TRT were often previous steroid abusers; giving them a TUE was essentially rewarding their past indiscretions.
Used steroids earlier in your career? Screwed up your endocrine system to the point your body can no longer produce its own natural testosterone? Here’s a hall pass for continued use!
The backwards reasoning behind the UFC’s brief stint into authorized PED use was one of the few times I was thankful MMA still existed in a bubble of obscurity; compared to the mainstream sports world, it seemed like we were perpetually stuck in the days of “human cockfighting”, only this time the roosters were scientifically enhanced.
The fact that the UFC was well aware of Belfort’s bad test, and still went ahead with the fight is truly damning. Not only did they sacrifice the safety of their most dominant champion, but they forfeited any credibility they had by favoring shrewd business sense over right and wrong.
Vitor Belfort and why he was allowed to fight at UFC 152
Given the climate surrounding UFC 152, it’s clear why Zuffa proceeded with the fight. The event came off the heels of the first cancellation in UFC history. After losing out on the money invested to promote UFC 151, Dana White and co. knew all too well they couldn’t risk cutting two events in a row; it would have been financial suicide in an already dry year for the company.
But since the release of Gross’ story, the UFC has been, predictably, silent. It would appear they’ve learned from past mistakes not to engage any negative media in the hopes that people will forget.
It’s odd, though, given the forgiving nature of most MMA fans. If the UFC were to take their lumps and admit they were aware of Belfort’s test but couldn’t cancel the event given the late notice, people would forgive and forget, even with as poor an excuse as that.
Because, as MMA fans, we expect to be lied to; hyperbole and exaggeration or outright omissions are part and parcel to the world of fight promotion. But when it comes to a fair playing field, and more importantly, athlete safety, stuff like this can’t just be swept under the rug.
The UFC rolled the dice by allowing Jones to enter a fight he had no business taking; they concealed important information and actively took steps to hide their malfeasance from parties who had a right to know what was going on.
Since UFC 152, to Zuffa’s credit, the organization has taken great steps to eliminate PED’s from the sport. TUE’s for TRT are no longer granted in most state athletic commissions, and the UFC themselves have instituted a comprehensive drug testing program for all athletes under contract.
But it still doesn’t excuse their actions surrounding 152. They actively tried to hide Belfort’s elevated levels from people whose health could be seriously affected by his performance.
So don’t let them fool you, at the end of the day the UFC cares more about money than they ever have for athlete safety. Don’t let them get away with it this time.
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