Comments on: Abusers and the Abused: Steroids and MMA http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/ MMA Opinion and Cheap MMA Gear Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Josh Stein http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/comment-page-1/#comment-4411 Josh Stein Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:33:08 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/?p=1997#comment-4411 Dane, that's a fair point. If steroid use was standardized, then it'd certainly be easier to track and regulate and keep the fighters healthy. Unfortunately, they are banned because of long term effects and side effects. I'm not going to pretend to be a medical expert, but those I have talked to have made a point of the hormone imbalance issue. It's really got to be handled on a drug-to-drug issue, and I'd like to know that there's a debate going on, but, like you said, that may not happen. Dane, that’s a fair point. If steroid use was standardized, then it’d certainly be easier to track and regulate and keep the fighters healthy.

Unfortunately, they are banned because of long term effects and side effects. I’m not going to pretend to be a medical expert, but those I have talked to have made a point of the hormone imbalance issue.

It’s really got to be handled on a drug-to-drug issue, and I’d like to know that there’s a debate going on, but, like you said, that may not happen.

]]> By: Dane http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/comment-page-1/#comment-4410 Dane Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:09:26 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/?p=1997#comment-4410 Josh, I agree that this issue is between the commissions, promoters, and the athletes. However, I don't think there is really an honest debate on this issue within the athletic commissions. Of all the banned substances, steroids are demonized the most, which I think has more to do with the media and the public, however they can benefit athletes with minimal side effects if taken properly under medical supervision (Please see the following for more on this debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0LEj8IPHGU . Prohibition doesn't work, and I think the commissions need to face this and have to figure out what can be done to ensure that athletes don't abuse this stuff, and this may be controlled better if they get their doctors involved to monitor this. Outright prohibition will ensure continued abuse with no control or supervision. I am not saying athletes should use steroids or other banned substances. Commissions and promoters have the right to determine which substances they will and will not allow athletes to take. I just think that this may be a losing battle, and they need to continue to debate all options. Josh, I agree that this issue is between the commissions, promoters, and the athletes. However, I don’t think there is really an honest debate on this issue within the athletic commissions. Of all the banned substances, steroids are demonized the most, which I think has more to do with the media and the public, however they can benefit athletes with minimal side effects if taken properly under medical supervision (Please see the following for more on this debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0LEj8IPHGU . Prohibition doesn’t work, and I think the commissions need to face this and have to figure out what can be done to ensure that athletes don’t abuse this stuff, and this may be controlled better if they get their doctors involved to monitor this. Outright prohibition will ensure continued abuse with no control or supervision. I am not saying athletes should use steroids or other banned substances. Commissions and promoters have the right to determine which substances they will and will not allow athletes to take. I just think that this may be a losing battle, and they need to continue to debate all options.

]]> By: Vee http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/comment-page-1/#comment-4408 Vee Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:41:43 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/?p=1997#comment-4408 I understand using the drugs for quicker muscle recovery. Stephan Bonnar, James Irvin needed to recover quickly to compete. But the risks can be even more damaging to the pockets. Yeah, I just don't agree. I understand using the drugs for quicker muscle recovery. Stephan Bonnar, James Irvin needed to recover quickly to compete. But the risks can be even more damaging to the pockets.

Yeah, I just don’t agree.

]]> By: Josh Stein http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/comment-page-1/#comment-4406 Josh Stein Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:05:44 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/?p=1997#comment-4406 Vee, interesting comment. I'm happy to acknowledge what fans want. I think that's obvious. Of course, if you don't see why fighters use steroids (though I think you do, you just don't agree with it), then you kinda missed the point of the article. Fighters need to fight, and they can't fight with injuries, so they used steroids as a way to repair those injuries. Or they use steroids as a way to make weight, or a way to perform better (so that they can win that fight and put themselves in a position to make more money). There's a huge risk. Steroids wrecked Josh Barnett's career in the U.S. for years, as well as his relationship with the UFC (and it cost him a title belt). Of course, plenty of people ignore the cautionary tale. They think "it's not going to be me." Is that a bad frame of mind? Yeah. Is it illogical? Alot of the time (especially in the UFC or Affliction, where the top guys all get tested). But they rationalize it anyway. Vee, interesting comment.

I’m happy to acknowledge what fans want. I think that’s obvious.

Of course, if you don’t see why fighters use steroids (though I think you do, you just don’t agree with it), then you kinda missed the point of the article.

Fighters need to fight, and they can’t fight with injuries, so they used steroids as a way to repair those injuries. Or they use steroids as a way to make weight, or a way to perform better (so that they can win that fight and put themselves in a position to make more money).

There’s a huge risk. Steroids wrecked Josh Barnett’s career in the U.S. for years, as well as his relationship with the UFC (and it cost him a title belt). Of course, plenty of people ignore the cautionary tale. They think “it’s not going to be me.” Is that a bad frame of mind? Yeah. Is it illogical? Alot of the time (especially in the UFC or Affliction, where the top guys all get tested). But they rationalize it anyway.

]]> By: VEe! http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2009/02/10/abusers-and-the-abused/comment-page-1/#comment-4402 VEe! Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:58:46 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/?p=1997#comment-4402 Here's my obligatory rant comment for the day. (Oh by the way ... I love drugs, read the Unauthorized Biography of Cocaine by Dominic Streatfeild) "mixed martial artists have a huge amount to gain by abusing drugs" Hey, if something effects my ability to earn money a-la Sean Sherk it is really not a good look. There are no $150 million dollar contracts in MMA. They have a lot to lose if they get caught. So I really do not see why a fighter would use steroids. And it really sucks to get caught in a losing effort. James Irvin. BUT, fuck the commission is I still have a little weed in my system. Nick Diaz beat Gomi. Gomi knows it. Fans don't give 2-cents if a fighter sustained an injury during the fight or before the fight. They do not know or care for the most part. Randy Couture def. Tim Sylvia* Forrest Griffin def. Mauricio Rua* Sylvia and Rua had serious surgeries after their fights. Sure Rua ran out of gas, but don't tell me Griffin was dominating the fight. And let's face it, Randy is not Fedor. Far from it. Fans want a Freaking KO at all cost! They don't care that Marcus Davis, Thiago Silva, Anderson Silva, Patrick Cote, etc. fought with injured or surgically repaired limbs, they want and care about stoppages. No decisions here, I want a stopppage. You broke your shin in half, I don't care . . . knock out your opponent. That's competitve contact sports in general. Do you want pain killers? Try the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. "The public wants a true heavyweight champion." -Brock Lesnar. Here’s my obligatory rant comment for the day. (Oh by the way … I love drugs, read the Unauthorized Biography of Cocaine by Dominic Streatfeild)

“mixed martial artists have a huge amount to gain by abusing drugs”
Hey, if something effects my ability to earn money a-la Sean Sherk it is really not a good look. There are no $150 million dollar contracts in MMA. They have a lot to lose if they get caught. So I really do not see why a fighter would use steroids. And it really sucks to get caught in a losing effort. James Irvin. BUT, fuck the commission is I still have a little weed in my system. Nick Diaz beat Gomi. Gomi knows it.

Fans don’t give 2-cents if a fighter sustained an injury during the fight or before the fight. They do not know or care for the most part.
Randy Couture def. Tim Sylvia*
Forrest Griffin def. Mauricio Rua*
Sylvia and Rua had serious surgeries after their fights. Sure Rua ran out of gas, but don’t tell me Griffin was dominating the fight. And let’s face it, Randy is not Fedor. Far from it.

Fans want a Freaking KO at all cost! They don’t care that Marcus Davis, Thiago Silva, Anderson Silva, Patrick Cote, etc. fought with injured or surgically repaired limbs, they want and care about stoppages. No decisions here, I want a stopppage. You broke your shin in half, I don’t care . . . knock out your opponent. That’s competitve contact sports in general.

Do you want pain killers? Try the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB.

“The public wants a true heavyweight champion.”
-Brock Lesnar.

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