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Does MMA have a steroid problem?
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Dana White, center, promoting UFC 100. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Neil Davidson)
In March 2008, mixed martial arts fighter Frank Shamrock was asked if he knew any fighters who were using PEDs and he responded with only one name: Ken Shamrock, his adoptive brother. He went on to say that Ken had used steroids “his whole life.”
At the time of Frank’s statement, Ken had never failed a drug test even though other fighters such as Dan Severn hinted that he used and there was wide speculation that he used while he was with the WWE. One year after Frank’s interview, the California State Athletic Commission suspended UFC hall of famer Ken Shamrock one year and fined him $2,500 after he tested positive for numerous anabolic agents. Shamrock tested positive for 19-Norandrosterone, 19-Noretiocholanolone and Stanozolol (brand name Winstrol) following a Feb. 13, 2009 Wargods event.
Frank Shamrock also did not feel that current steroid testing polices were adequate because the polices are put in place by the state commissions, not the companies themselves. In fact, a search on the Ultimate Fighting Championship website for the words “steroid,” “policy” and “drug” yielded no results. Yet, a Google search for "UFC drug policy" yields an article from July 2007 where UFC President Dana White said, “All the fighters in the UFC know what our position on steroids is. You can't use them, you're not supposed to use them. I certainly hope none of my guys are using.”
Even the women of MMA are using PEDs. Brazilian Carina Damm tested positive for Nandrolone (brand name Deca-Durabolin) and was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission in March of 2008. She became the first female fighter to test positive in the U.S. for PEDs.
California had 15 steroid positives for 54 MMA events in eight months during 2007. Big promotions such as UFC and Strikeforce test all competitors. California has done more for the sport in battling the use of PEDs than the organizations themselves including putting a promotion out of business. Last month, the California State Athletic Commission would not issue a license for Affliction Entertainment’s fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett because Barnett had tested positive for steroids. Affliction then canceled the bout, and closed its doors as a promoter.
The current testing in UFC, before and after events, is half hearted at best. Some athletes will get caught, but to effectively curb the problem, random testing is needed along with stiffer penalties. Training for a fight occurs over several months, enough time for an athlete to cycle on and off a program and come up clean before the test.
UFC, the biggest promotion in MMA, needs to take the lead and be more proactive when it comes to PEDs. If an up and coming athlete wants to find out what the testing program is, where does he find it? Ignoring an issue does not imply it does not exist. Learn from Major League Baseball, don’t repeat their failings on this issue.
Our Mixed Martial Arts Examiner, Eddie Graveline, can be found here.
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