I dont think so, the way it looks to me if you use roids you will be caught. I think the ufc has a good drug program.

They’re doing a good job of catching roid users but the penalty should be much stiffer than it is now. It seems as if it’s a small fine and a suspension which lasts about as long as most fighters go between bouts anyway. I’d like to see mandatory testing of all fighters at every event with heavier penalties for those that fail.
That said, they should only be testing for performance enhancing drugs. Not all illegal drugs. Free Nick Diaz!

FREE NICK DIAZ!!!

OK heres what I dont get. If you do roids…. How long does it stay in your system? Like I feel like some of these fighters do roids and then let it wash out of their system before their fight so they appear clean but made the gains before hand. Is that even possible? If you do roids is there a permanant mark in your blood that proves you did them at one point?

I know that they cant test for HGH because the test just doesnt exist yet. I feel like all the PROs if they abuse, they use HGH because its that much harder to test for. Anyone have any insight on this? Ive never known how they work, and how fighters think they can get away with it.

That said, they should only be testing for performance enhancing drugs. Not all illegal drugs. Free Nick Diaz!

Typical pot head mentality. “Drugs are bad, except the ones that I use” lol

Typical pot head mentality. “Drugs are bad, except the ones that I use” lol

IMO pot isn’t any worse than alcohol, but that is beside the point. What he was saying is it didn’t help him at all in the fight, so why test and punish for it? 9 month suspension, 20% fine of the purse, and taking a win away for toking up is retarded.

The logic behind that decision is he smoked to purposely null the pain. In other words, the president of the NSAC has no idea what he is talking about. And I don’t see why Diaz should get so much hate for that, when Bas Rutten DID use banned substances to null the pain. He tested positive for 3 different pain killers, 1 of them morphine, but that got 0 attention. I think Morphine might just do a teensy tiny little bit more to null pain than weed. And the negative effects of weed would be more harmful in a fight than any benefits

If you look back at suspensions for violating drug policy in UFC. Both Stephen Bonnar and Melvin Guillard served and is currently serving suspensions of 9 months. That is extremely costly when it comes to sponsorships.

I.E. Not getting to wear their gear. 9 months translates in to 2-3 fights, with 3 fights occuring if you are a big name.

The UFC in my opinion has been doing a great job of punishing the Barry Bonds’ of the world. And another thing, until this Babalu arrest thing, you have not really heard of UFC guys getting in to “off the field” problems with the law.

I guess guys like Rich Franklin and Andre Arvlovski arent “making it rain on ho’s” like Pacman Jones and his hood entourage.

To expand on my last post…

Testing for weed before a fight is like testing for steroids before a chess competition. I’d also like to add that while I strongly disagree with the Diaz decision (like stated above), it is hard to argue a punishment handed down for using an illegal drug. if he had said “Marijuana is illegal, so he is being punished for it”, I’d buy that. I just don’t buy that he used it as a performance enhancer, like the NSAC said he did

hahahaha.. its like let me hit that bong so i can go out there and beat the shit out of that guy.. Weed should just be legal.. when i become a police officer, its goin to be hard locking up someone up for having weed on them.. just aint right..

They’re doing a good job of catching roid users but the penalty should be much stiffer than it is now. It seems as if it’s a small fine and a suspension which lasts about as long as most fighters go between bouts anyway. I’d like to see mandatory testing of all fighters at every event with heavier penalties for those that fail.
That said, they should only be testing for performance enhancing drugs. Not all illegal drugs. Free Nick Diaz!

I think they do a good job now. If someone tests positive for drugs, they are suspended by the athletic commission that is sanctioning the event and the match is changed to a “no contest.” As far as the UFC goes, do you think we are going to see Melvin Gullard anytime soon?

Its not always obvious as to who is using roids, I mean Gracie, Bonnar, Sylvia. They never looked like they did roids EVER. They probly had some gains in strength but not in physical appearance. Some dudes might as well wear a sign that says “roid freak”. Phil Baroni does steroids? Yeah no s$#t.

I dont know much it really helps a fighter tho. Just like hitting a home run. Its not ALL just power. Theres stances, hand eye coordination, swing, follow through, etc. Id say a good MMA fighter doesnt even need them. Just work on your techniques and strategies rathter than just trying to over power your opponet.

Its not always obvious as to who is using roids, I mean Gracie, Bonnar, Sylvia. They never looked like they did roids EVER. They probly had some gains in strength but not in physical appearance. Some dudes might as well wear a sign that says “roid freak”. Phil Baroni does steroids? Yeah no s$#t.

I dont know much it really helps a fighter tho. Just like hitting a home run. Its not ALL just power. Theres stances, hand eye coordination, swing, follow through, etc. Id say a good MMA fighter doesnt even need them. Just work on your techniques and strategies rathter than just trying to over power your opponet.

Supposedly, Tim Sylvia did it to improve his physical appearance. I guess he wanted to get rid of his man boobs.

Actually the sentence for Diaz stated that the drugs made him numb to pain and that helped him win.

If i recall correctly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Diaz#Diaz_in_PRIDE_FC

Alamo went on to say, “Mr. Diaz was 175. This creates a unique situation. I was there at this fight and believe that you were intoxicated and… that it made you numb to the pain. Did it help you win? I think it did.”

Yep, i recall correctly.

Oh, nearly forgot…..

Take that hippy’s

:D

Testing for weed before a fight is like testing for steroids before a chess competition. I’d also like to add that while I strongly disagree with the Diaz decision (like stated above), it is hard to argue a punishment handed down for using an illegal drug. if he had said “Marijuana is illegal, so he is being punished for it”, I’d buy that. I just don’t buy that he used it as a performance enhancer, like the NSAC said he did

Like the analogy. But you would really feel better if fighters started getting supensions for breaking rather minor laws? How about a ticket where you were driving 25 mi over the speed limit? What if these were the rules for every profession? I bet some of the Athletic commission would get suspended for b.s., just like testing for weed. What is stigma with weed all about?

OK heres what I dont get. If you do roids…. How long does it stay in your system? Like I feel like some of these fighters do roids and then let it wash out of their system before their fight so they appear clean but made the gains before hand. Is that even possible? If you do roids is there a permanant mark in your blood that proves you did them at one point?

I know that they cant test for HGH because the test just doesnt exist yet. I feel like all the PROs if they abuse, they use HGH because its that much harder to test for. Anyone have any insight on this? Ive never known how they work, and how fighters think they can get away with it.

Different steroids have different detection times. Deca can still be detected within the system for up to a year. Anavar on the other hand can be out of the system in three weeks. Some or alot (depending on an individuals post cycle therapy)will lose the muscle they gain after they quit taking steroids. The more dramatic drop off occurs when the user doesn’t have the benefit of increased red blood cells (Equipoise) that can carrying additional oxygen to the muscle. Deca can help ease joint pain when more fluid is stored within the joint. To anyswer your question, no there isn’t a permanent mark on your system. Most of the guys who have been caught with steroids are using steroids that are detectable long after use. So apparently they’re doing this on their own or their advisors is giving them shitty advice. I would tell you want I would do, but I don’t condone the use of steroids in professional or amateur sports. :-)

the tallent pool is so deep in MMA now a days and fighters that are struggling to compete with the big names and better fighters will be tempted to use roids to help them think they will be stronger and more athletic.. so roids will be a problem with the growth of MMA the way its going…i think they should test every fighter in large orginazations.

we should have to different companies.. Ufc .. and ASUFC.. and watch roid heads go at it .. that would be fun.. but they fight to the death to win.. and if they dont die.. u do wat mike vick does to his pitbulls.. hanging’s or pick them up and smash them.. def an eye catcher

Yep, I was pretty upset when I heard they had stripped Diaz of his victory over Gomi because he tested positive for THC. It supposedly made him numb to the pain? I don’t buy that for one second; the last thing you’d want to use as a so-called performance enhancing drug is one that deminishes your judgement and mental sharpness while you’re in a FIGHT. So the ‘he cheated’ bit is out. As far as steroids go I believe that they have absolutely no place in MMA. Look at the steroid related tragedies in other sports, even in the WWE. Eddy Guerro died as a result of complications do to prolonged steroid use. I don’t know, I look at the MLB allstars who have all popped hot for roids and I just shake my head because of how they have tarnished their reputations by using such enhancers. I think the UFC’s drug screening program is working and it really needs to; the last thing I would want to see is some guy get an edge over another fighter who IS following the rules and the law.

I agree with Jason, I have been doing natural bodybuilding for the past 5 years and guys have tested positive in our sport as well. Some guys even get away with it, like Jason stated. Anytime you have a physically competitive sport, Some athletes will use drugs. As good as you think the testing might be, I doubt there will ever be 100% drug free sports. It really just comes down to the athletes.

Yep, I was pretty upset when I heard they had stripped Diaz of his victory over Gomi because he tested positive for THC. It supposedly made him numb to the pain? I don’t buy that for one second; the last thing you’d want to use as a so-called performance enhancing drug is one that deminishes your judgement and mental sharpness while you’re in a FIGHT. So the ‘he cheated’ bit is out.

How about he broke the rules. Pot is illegal…period. Whether it causing any type of numbing ability or whatever, you break the rules you pay the fine. No different than in football. You break the rules and you pay the fine(s) and/or get suspended.

Hermes Franca tested positive it seems.

Typical pot head mentality. “Drugs are bad, except the ones that I use” lol

How, exactly, does pot enhance one’s ability to win fights?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Diaz#Diaz_in_PRIDE_FC

Alamo went on to say, “Mr. Diaz was 175. This creates a unique situation. I was there at this fight and believe that you were intoxicated and… that it made you numb to the pain. Did it help you win? I think it did.”

Quoting myself but bored of reading people asking how pot helps you win.

Quoting myself but bored of reading people asking how pot helps you win.

Since when does Pot make you “numb to the pain”? I thought it just made you parrahnoid, hungry, worsened your coordination, and slowed your reaction time.

I just read on mmanews.com that hermes franca has admitted to taking a illegal substance to help him recover from a ankle injury in order to get ready for his titlefight at ufc 73.

How about he broke the rules. Pot is illegal…period. Whether it causing any type of numbing ability or whatever, you break the rules you pay the fine. No different than in football. You break the rules and you pay the fine(s) and/or get suspended.

No one is trying to say it isn’t illegal (maybe that it shouldn’t be, but that is a different argument). He didn’t get a win taken away, a fine, and a 9 month suspension for breaking the law. He got that punishment based on using a performance enhancing drug, which weed is NOT.

Like I said, if they want to test for weed, and say “you broke the law, we are suspending/fining you”, I can buy that. What I DON’T buy for a second is taking away a victory, and claiming it was a performance enhancer. That is just plain ignorance on the effects of it. My argument is the punishment should be no different than the others who have tested positive, which I believe is a 6 month suspension and equal fine from the NSAC (Diego Sanchez got 3 months from the CSAC). Calling it a performance enhancer, and taking away the win, is bull****

How, exactly, does pot enhance one’s ability to win fights?

Well how did steroids help Bonner, Cope and Baroni win their fights…oh ya it didn’t, they all lost.

Bottom line is there a list of banned substances that every fighter knows about. If you get caught with it in your system (regardless of the drug), you will be fine and suspended. Deal with it and quit whinning and justifying about how pot should be legal and crap. Christ if that were true we’d have more lazy, unmotivated americans around her than we already have.

Quoting myself but bored of reading people asking how pot helps you win.

We have seen that, and think it is bs on the part of the NSAC. I don’t buy that explanation for a second

My one buddy who is very athletic smokes before he does stuff and he claims it calms him down and helps his performance. I don’t know if its true, but I have a hard time generating sympathy for Diaz. Don’t really like him or his punk brother. ;)

Quoting myself but bored of reading people asking how pot helps you win.

J, apparently you have never been stoned. I know you keep on using that quote and I just don’t buy it. When I used to smoke pot I would feel lazy, tired, and happy. If I were in a fight the last thing I would want be is stoned. In addition, I broke my ankle once when I was high and it sure as hell hurt! While being “intoxicated” at that moment I doubt the pain would have felt any different if I were “sober” at that moment. I know it is illegal, yet steroids and other performance enhancers should come as a higher priority over pot. I don’t like Nick Diaz or his brother, yet I feel he got cheated out of a win.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Hermes-Franca-Claims-Hell-Be-Failing-UFC-73-Drug-Test.html

**Franca tested positive to Drostanolone. He has been fined $2500 and suspended through his licensing year which is July 5, 2008.

Wow is all I can say.

Been high, been drunk, not been an athlete or broken anything. Of course all thats irrelevant because i’m not the licensing body for the sport.

The fact is they say numb to pain, not unable to feel pain, so the broken bone comparison isn’t so much accurate.

And it occurs to me the medicinal marijuana people constantly point to the drugs ability to help relieve pain in terminally ill patients. Why is it such a stretch to think it will help an athlete no more easily shake off nagging aches and pains that happen in a fight.

Of course this is typically how the stoners argue the virtues of their vice of choice, it has all these great qualities until you tell them not to drive or compete. God forbid they be taxed like smokes or booze.

Lots and LOTS of fighters are coming up dirty now….
Im really happy and proud to see Edgar and Lytle come through with great preformances and not dirty peepee. Lytle is a great passionate fighter that should definitely have a future in the UFC… glad he isnt trying to nitch his way in. Same with Edgar.

The other part to consider is, how many of these fighters that are coming through clean, are infact dirty, just at the right times. Alot of the substances are down to a science, I have a bit of education on it seeing as a good friend is a former body builder. Any good source for any substance will give you the exact day to stop taking that substance to pass a test. Alot of these substances arent in your system for a long period of time (hence why I think its funny fighters get busted for Cocaine… which is only in your system for like 8 days.)

I agree with what you are saying here J, you brought up some good points. Yet, being numb means to not feel pain the last time I checked. I just don’t feel that him smoking pot helped him win this fight.

Alamo went on to say, “Mr. Diaz was 175. This creates a unique situation. I was there at this fight and believe that you were intoxicated and… that it made you numb to the pain. Did it help you win? I think it did.”
Quoting myself but bored of reading people asking how pot helps you win.

J, you sound like the typical straight edge nerdy principle from high school. But seriously, smoking ganja does not make one fight better. There is no way. It would make a person fight worse. So if smoking weed is a performance enhancer, why aren’t track stars smoking up before races? Do you think that smoking trees would make them run faster?

Of course this is typically how the stoners argue the virtues of their vice of choice, it has all these great qualities until you tell them not to drive or compete. God forbid they be taxed like smokes or booze.

While I disagree with your stance, I agree that it is retarded to argue in favor of driving while high. I’ve known people who try to claim they drive better while high, and I think it is bullshit (I’ve done it, and noticed a HUGE change in how i drove). My personal opinion is weed should be treated the exact same as alcohol. Not until your 21, don’t drive/operate heavy machinery while high, and don’t get totally wasted unless in a designated area

Sigh…..

Totally caught me, except for the part where i’m actually an alcoholic waiter from a bar… but whatever.

I’m gonna take the high road here (get it? high road?). Personal preference of vices aside, it’s illegal. It’s not a secret it’s illegal. It’s not a secret it’s the kinda illegal that gets you fined and suspended.

On a side note, to “guarantee that at least 50% of the atheletes in the NBA smoke pot”? That’s reaching i think. Should have gone with musicians, everyone knows they are all drug addicts. I’m not gonna lie, stoners aggravate me when they pull “facts” like that outta their asses.

Wolf, he had a busted orbital bone and was being punched in the face, being numb to pain may help a bit there.

My god that was a great fight though. All the drama aside.

My god that was a great fight though. All the drama aside.

Something everyone can agree on

Nothing like pot to stir up a good debate.

If only we could get a post about Lidell getting an abortion. Then we could argue about Chuck and birth control!!

That would be awesome!!

Manditory drug testing is no garantee that they will catch all cheaters unless they hold your dick and make sure it is you who is pissing in the cup. If anything the cheaters will come prepared to pass the test, example: you can buy bladders with a little tube attatched that you get buddy (who is clean) to pee in it and hide it in your shorts.

I would say for all the professional athletes in every sport, everybody does it. It’s just a matter of not getting caught.

I think the UFC is doing a good example of guys who get using ’roids. I think their penalties for 1st time juicers are much more harsh compared to that of other pro sports organizations. I mean, Shawn Merriman got suspended 4 games(one-fourth of the NFL regular season for his testing positive for ’roids the 1st time around and MLB players only get suspended like 50 games(almost half the amount of the regular season). Whereas 1st time offenders like Sherk, Franca, Sylvia, and Bonnar get suspended for one year.

The dollar fine for steroid use seems cruel because they pay sh1t in the first place. I would just stick with the ban period and strip any belts.

The $2,500 fine goes towards paying for a limo, champaign and a small stack of chips at the craps table for Dana while these guys are losing teeth and suffering head trauma for $3,000 fight.

The testing should definetly be more consistant. The random testing is good for situations like this but to stop the issue it must be consistant. If the fighters no there going to be tested it wont happen. With the random testing fighters will still take chances as what happen with Sherk and Franca.

I would expect that random is better actually. If they know they are gonna get tested every time then what’s to stop them from getting on the schedule an earlier poster said. Making sure they know that their system is clean by fight time (not that they shouldn’t be doing that anyway, only the truly careless or arrogant get caught).

They should step it up even farther and test 2 and 3 weeks out from the fight as well, that would be far more solid. After all you have a contract to fight, that could be part of the contract. Test 4 weeks out, and again 2 weeks, only excuse would be medicinal use related to an injury at 4 weeks and no excuse at 2 weeks.

I would expect that random is better actually. If they know they are gonna get tested every time then what’s to stop them from getting on the schedule an earlier poster said. Making sure they know that their system is clean by fight time (not that they shouldn’t be doing that anyway, only the truly careless or arrogant get caught).

They should step it up even farther and test 2 and 3 weeks out from the fight as well, that would be far more solid. After all you have a contract to fight, that could be part of the contract. Test 4 weeks out, and again 2 weeks, only excuse would be medicinal use related to an injury at 4 weeks and no excuse at 2 weeks.

I like the system you have come up with. The only problem is that it can also be timed on a timeline before a fight. When to stop and how to test around it

True, but from what someone said earlier you lose much of the benefit without regular use.

Diminishing returns says with what these guys are getting paid, they won’t get enough benefit trying to dose around 3 tests. Just becomes a massive waste of money.

I dont think so, the way it looks to me if you use roids you will be caught. I think the ufc has a good drug program.

‘But you don’t know how those drug programs are compared to the rest of the world?

The american drug programs are a huge joke….As one of the very few western country’s the USA aren’t using WADAs(World Anti-Doping Agency) programs which are far more extencive than what the UFC, NFL and so on are doing..

the UFC don’t do their own testing of fighters in their training periods which is the only way to secure that this doesn’t happen again….

I think their policy sucks big time

On a side note, to “guarantee that at least 50% of the atheletes in the NBA smoke pot”? That’s reaching i think. Should have gone with musicians, everyone knows they are all drug addicts. I’m not gonna lie, stoners aggravate me when they pull “facts” like that outta their asses.

Actually Miss J, guaranteeing that 50% of the people smoke pot in the NBA is conservatively low number. I’ve heard plenty of interviews of NBA players who say that its more like 75%.

I quickly searched for an artictle to back my claim, and came across MANY. Here is a quick excerpt from one:

“According to some estimates,” wrote McCaffrey, “as many as 70 percent of NBA players may be current drug users. Marijuana, which players can use with impunity from league sanctions because it is not prohibited under the existing NBA rules, accounts for the bulk of this use (making it routine for players to build an addiction bad enough to run afoul of the law before their problem receives attention).”

That full article can be found at http://www.commondreams.org/views/051700-105.htm

And here is another quote from Charles Oakley:
“In 2001, the New York Times wrote a story that suggested that 60 percent of the league is smoking marijuana.”

SO, next time, before you accuse an educated “stoner” of “pulling facts out of thier ass”, maybe you should now a little about the subject, or do a little research yourelf.

what a black eye for the sport, they better get this under control or everything that has been gained may be lost, horrible for mma, people who hate mma love to see this