Excellent article, Mr. Richardson, as usual. It's my hope, too, that this sport doesn't become tainted with too many more of these cases of PED use.

Thanks Erin.
I think Bas Rotten said it best on Twitter. “I am just blown away with who gets caught. What happened to good food, water and some supplements? That’s what I did, and I never had a problem with people being stronger or in better shape.

Listen, if you had shoulder surgery, or whatever surgery, and the doc tells you that you will heal faster, do it, but then do NOT fight! This is giving the sport a bad name, everything (MMA does) is already “frowned upon”.

If you can’t train had anymore because you are getting up there in age, then don’t fight – very simple.

I could never look at myself in the mirror if I would have cheated – never – and don’t give me the BS excuse “but everybody is doing it”.

Technically most of these performance enhancing drugs, at least in MMA are such a problem because there are several forms of anabolic steroids can be purchased over the counter from many major sponsors (Muscle Pharm, GNC, Complete Nutrition). There are often sold as muscle building supplements. Not necesarily purchased from a dirty doctor and injected in your backside.

Dan, I agree. But if it's your job to make sure you are putting the right things in your body. You must do your research.
I interviewed a nutritionist for an NFL team. And she tell her guys to give her the name of the supplement before they take them and she would give them the list of ban ingredients that are include in it.
I know every fight cannot afford a personal nutritionist, but they can call the manufacturer and get a email list of ingredients. It's your livelihood.

the ufc is harder than any sport they use the same guidelines as the Olympics. fighters get suspended for 1 year and have to pay fines for first offense

whatever ... let them snort blow and have hookers in the dressing room ... I don't care if they use PED or not - I actually perfer if they do - I am paying to see them fight not to be role models - PED would not be an issue if you took your head out off you a** and stopped expect atheletes to be role models - it is a job - period

Okay we get it. You're against steroids. Good for you. I don't agree with the use of steroids either but don't knock it til you try it. haha. jk. Seriously though man. Steroids are not illegal. You can buy things at GNC or Popeyes that will put you over on one of those tests. The problem is with the athletic commission. They need to get up to speed with the supplement industry and stop banning substances that are not real steroids. Also, if you wanna ban performance enhancing drugs, you would have to do weekly tests because some of the stuff can be flushed and have your testosterone levels back to normal within a couple weeks.

Biggest issue everyone seems to overlook is one the CSAC doesn't give one (expletive) about " Fighters Safety " and why is that ?

what good are doing drug tests if the results don't come out until a month later? hmmmm lets think about that one for a sec!!! give me a break this whole steroids debate is so stupid especially when they say " we're doing this for the fighters safety!!!! "

yeah right

Steroids are not good for sports.Boxers and NFL players use them at least as much as UFC fighters. And I do not advocate the use. However, what comes to shams, MMA/UFC is the closest thing to real thing there is. At least much closer than Don King Productions = boxing, WWE or any other sport. Why did Mike Tyson get paid 20 million per fight(although much tougher mma fighters get paid ten times less) although Tyson never was the best fighter and not even the best boxer. He never beat Holyfield for example, without even mentioning all the talent potential who werent even in the boxing circuit at that time. So lets give MMA=mixed marital arts the respect it deserves, at the top.

Jon. The wwe took that approach to the use of PEDs, then chris benoit killed his wife and kid, then himself.

STEROIDS-BOYCOTT-STEROIDS-BOYCOTT-STEROIDS-BOYCOTT

Done with MMA, Football, Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Underwater Basket weaving, ha,ha,ha etc.

I am tired of all the cheaters and steroids. If a sport cannot do Olympic style blood and urine testing for hgh, steroids, etc, then they are not going to get my money. Look at baseball. Even though the sport is boring and has many problems, steroids killed baseball's revenue. I see the empty stands and see how cameras try to manipulate seating shots to make it appear there is a full stadium. A real man stands on his own two feet for what he is and struggles to change his weaknesses into strengths, not cheat with steroids. All those mma cheaters are just a bunch of losers, and regardless of the media hype or money thrown they will always look like that in everyone's eyes, period. Why don't I give everyone a bat who didn't take steroids to even the playing field. Americans know their "pro" sports are tainted, and we don't need to wait for congress to fix you. Everyone speaks of mma like it is a circus rather than a sport because of all the controversy. You are going the same route as fake wrestling or strongman competitions that make no money because of steroid losers. It is cause and effect. Less fans, less attendance at other venues like bars, means less money for all businesses around. Regulate steroids before it destroys your source of income. I know I am not going to any events until you fix this crap.

List of Steroid Cheaters, some are still with their organizations after a slap on the wrist.ex Chris Leben

JOSH BARNETT (now with strikeforce), TIM SYLVIA, KIMO LEOPOLDO, NATE MARQUARDT, VITOR BELFORT, STEPHAN BONNAR, PAWEL NASTULA, KIT COPE, JOHNNIE MORTON, ROYCE GRACIE, JORGE ORTIZ, PHIL BARONI, SEAN SHERK (still with UFC), HERMES FRANCA, ANTHONY TORRES, BILL MAHOOD, ADAM SMITH, JASON WINTHERS, RUBEN VILLAREAL, DENNIS HALLMAN, ALEXANDER CRISPIM, CARINA DAMM, ALEXANDRE NOGUEIRA, ANTONIO SILVA, EDWIN DEWEES, CHRIS LEBEN (still with UFC), KIRILL SIDELNIKOV, KEN SHAMROCK, JOSH BARNETT, COLE PROVINCE, CHAEL SONNEN (still with UFC), SHANE CARWIN (not caught but federal link to purchase of steroids).

Really, you cheat, you get another chance, BS!!!

For everyone who supports steroid use, I don't know what to say. You are either born a man or not, and compensating by drugs pretty much answers those questions. Everyone can see when most anyone really abuses steroids, and notes records broken, and people dying of cancer early. I hope those that support it take it and die from the stuff so the rest of us can enjoy this rock with a few less losers on it.

Piss tests are not good enough because any cheater can use a catheter and fill his bladder with whatever at any time. The testing is also not that costly, for blood and urine, so that argument don't fly with me either. Also sports need to publicly state who was on what whenever they fail a test. Football and baseball keep their information private other than announcing a failed PED. I hear about a steroid user and I boycott and bad mouth.

Dana White you are a DOUCHE

Army of Darkness

Another aspect of steroid use, is that these guys are often opinion leaders for younger guys. We want to get our kids off all this sort of stuff and the UFC/MMA fighters have a lot of influence over what young guys perceive as right and wrong.

I agree with Dana White. People abuse substances. It's part of life. Every sport has athletes taking performance enhancing drugs. Why should MMA fighters be banned for life from their organisation while other athletes get a slap on the wrist? causr they're fighters? Man im sick of fighters getting a hard time when compared to other athletes.

This is Sparta, and I only speak the truth.

For those that are supporting steroid use for one reason or another, I cannot help but wonder if you actually work or get money from the UFC. I noticed my postings on Sherdog's loser site were pulled, and did not violate any of their rules. I simply spoke the truth on steroid abuse. Dana White wants steroids and is deathly afraid of regulation. He has said it in more ways than one. All the public posts, which I support like this one, tell the truth. Most all of the posts are against cheaters and steroids. I have yet to find a post that says that guys like Sonnen should not get punished if it is proven that he took steroids. So watch these people that flat out support steroids, ridiculous.

Congress focused on baseball, and all other sports, including Olympic testing, is on the way for a change. Blogging is good, but WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN AGAINST STEROID ABUSE. In time "pro" sports will get cleaned up.

Wouldn't all of you athletes who play by the rules like a chance to make money and play for pro sports. If the steroid cheaters are removed from sports, sports takes on a whole new light. I would like to be payed big money, but I am not willing to get cancer, wreck my organs and shrink my only reason for being on this planet. People who take steroids are weak and easily influenced by what others say.

It is simple, whether they all or just some take steroids in any sport, steroids are unfair. They give you a muscle advantage, and we know it changes the game, period. Those that take steroids are losers.

If you have to take PED (Drugs) to do your job, you should find another job.Period.

Role models=nonsense. Red herring argument, used for distraction

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whatever ... I don't care if they use PED or not - I actually perfer if they do - I am paying to see them fight not to be role models - PED would not be an issue if you took your head out off you a** and stopped expect atheletes to be role models - it is a job - period

Yeah PED's are a big problem in the sport as in any sport but the problem is when they clamp down they tend to do so hard and all of a sudden guys end up failing drugs tests due to some substances in cold and flu meds or in their supplements.Rugby for example has been hit really hard lately.Careers are on the line.