Dana White Explodes on TRT Usage in MMA: “TRT Has Become a Way For People To Cheat”

by Adam Martin

UFC president Dana White exploded today in a Q+A session with fans in London about the widespread usage of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in mixed martial arts.

According to MMAOpinion.co.uk, White absolutely went ballistic about the controversial procedure that many of the sports top stars — fighters like Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, and Chael Sonnen — are using in an effort to feel younger than they actually are. While White’s stance up until now was that he was okay with TRT since the athletic commissions allowed it if the athletes were within the legal ratios required, he’s since completely changed his mind.

Here’s what White said, with the quotes courtesy of our friends at MMA Opinion.

On TRT:

“TRT has become a way for people to cheat. If this is what your normal level should be and then you have guys training at huge levels (of testosterone) for their whole camp then tapering down to get to normal levels before the fucking fight, that’s cheating, and I don’t like it anymore.”

On fighters saying they need TRT to fight:

“There are plenty of guys in the UFC that are naturally gifted and talented fighters. If you’re testosterone levels are too low then you’re probably too old to be fighting, stop fighting! “

On testing procedures:

“We can test everybody. I’m telling you right now, if you are using testosterone replacement therapy, get ready motherfuckers because we’re going to test the shit out of you.”

On why he’s changed his stance on TRT from saying it’s OK to now turning against it:

“Some things recently have lead me to believe that people are fucking cheaters, people are taking good things and turning it into a bad thing and if you want to play those games then guess what, we’ll play!”

On the list of banned drugs:

“There’s so much shit out there. Right now there’s banned substances and and we follow the regulations and we’re going after the banned substances, TRT was never one of them and they would be tested leading up to the fight to make sure the levels are good. If you’re on TRT now, you’re going to wish you weren’t. We’re going to test the living shit out of you.”

 Final words:

“You have guys that go in there 100 percent natural with his talent and natural ability, against someone on TRT, basically someone thats on steroids. I’m absolutely 100 percent against TRT and now I’m going to start fighting it 100 percent with the athletic commissions and I want nothing to do with it.”

This is exactly what the sport of mixed martial arts needed. White is the most powerful man in the sport of MMA today and the only way this TRT phenomenon is going to end is if someone like White takes a hard stance against it, which he apparently has.

What does this even mean? Who knows at this point, but one thing is for sure, and that’s that the UFC knows TRT is a problem and they are going to fix it.