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Anabolic Steroids in Mixed Martial Arts
Recently, two top professional mixed martial arts
(MMA) fighters were banned for using Nandrolone
Metabolite and Drostanolone. This news brought
to light what many in the MMA world knew already
- performance-enhancing drugs are very prevalent
in the fighting ring.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) emerged in the 1990s
as an underground sport, which integrated fighting
styles from striking to grappling, into one unique
sport. Originally considered barbaric and dangerous,
it was banned in many circles. By the early 2000s,
the underground sport began to gain more and more
visibility, and therefore, credibility. New standards
for fighting were introduced to improve viewing
pleasure and ensure fighters were protected from
unnecessary injuries. The sport gained corporate
interest, took on sponsors, and soon began staging
pay-Per-View television events.
As with most sports, the moment a great deal
of money is infused, two things happen. First,
the level of performance increases greatly as
many new athletes join the sport. Second, drug
use becomes more prevalent as no longer are fighters
fighting for a $2k check and a trophy. Suddenly,
fighters are competing for hundreds of thousands
of dollars. With that kind of money on the line,
and the level of competition, performance-enhancing
drugs quickly made their mark on the sport.
Most MMA fighters who do use choose Halotesten
and/or Mibolerone. These substances create feelings
of aggression and strength increases, without
water retention or weight gain. Strikers often
prefer Winstrol and Trenbolone. Testosterone and
human growth hormone are beginning to get a foothold
in the sport. These two compounds are very expensive,
tightly controlled, and often only available to
top athletes in sports like football and baseball.
A physician typically prescribes testosterone,
and human growth hormone is hard to obtain, even
from a doctor.
As with other sports, the decision of a fighter
to use or not use is a personal decision. The
rules of every major professional fighting organization
forbid the use of steroids, as well as many stimulants.
Testing is very expensive and often only implemented
at the top levels, where prize money and sponsorship
dollars allow for this option. Are steroids cheating
if many of the top competitors are using them?
That's a tough question to answer. What we do
know is that with continued success of the sport
- worldwide television coverage and millions of
sponsorship dollars - the level of competition,
and subsequent steroid use to compete, will continue
to rise.
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