UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz rips into TRT, Forrest Griffin; warns against epidemic

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The increase in cases of fighters getting exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy isn't sitting well with many, but from a fighter standpoint not too many have come out vocally against it. However, with the revelation that Forrest Griffin was the latest fighter to be granted an exemption for TRT, Tito Ortiz has come out with a vengeance against the treatment, and he ripped into the situation on Monday night on AXS TV's Inside MMA program.

"[TRT is a problem] that has to be nipped in the bud right off the bat and not let people like Forrest get away with things like this," Ortiz said (transcribed by MMAJunkie.com). "Since Day 1 that I've been competing over the last 15 years, I've always been on an even field. Why, all of the sudden, can other fighters be on a higher field ? six times the amount of an average person?"

Ortiz is, of course, referencing the Nevada State Athletic Commission's allowance of a 6-to-1 ratio for testosterone to epitestosterone, while the average male ratio is 1:1. However, that ratio only represents synthetic testosterone in the system, not how much is in a person's system entirely. Still, while he's got his facts a little off on that front, Ortiz believes the allowance of this treatment is sending the entirely wrong message.

"I think we're sending the wrong message out to fans and kids who want to be UFC fighters and mixed martial arts fighters because if they're not able to be on an even field, well, now they can do some type of supplement to enhance them to become on a higher level and able to push themselves and recover faster," Ortiz said. "They can push themselves harder during the fight. What happens to their mind? ... It's just too bad this epidemic is starting to happen."

"I've gone through some major surgeries," Ortiz continued. "If I was able to use this type of therapy, maybe I'd still be fighting ? maybe I'd still be doing it. But I think it's an easy way out. It's a weakness. It's an excuse."

"If I can't play on an even field with the rest of the fighters, yes, it is time for me to step out and step away. And I've done that because my body's not able to recover as fast as before."

Penick's Analysis: Ortiz's last point about training and recovery is the main reason this is such an issue, and why a larger conversation is needed regarding the allowance of the treatment. Is this something that should be allowed widespread, where any fighter can take advantage of any medical assistance that helps recovery time or assists in training? It's absolutely performance enhancing on that front, and with the state of testing right now it's ripe for abuse during training camp. The prevalence of the treatment makes it seem like more and more fighters are using it as a legalized loophole for performance enhancement during training, and that makes it a problem for the time being.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13860.shtml

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