Renzo Gracie Says All MMA Fighters are Using Steroids Except for Two of His Students
Renzo Gracie Says All MMA Fighters are Using Steroids Except for Two of His Students
Renzo Gracie thinks anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are a major problem in mixed martial arts (MMA). While many current and former MMA fighters have bemoaned the PED problem in MMA, Gracie is the first to claim that (practically) everyone is using steroids.
The Brazilian MMA magazine Tatame asked Gracie for his thoughts about the recent spate of positive steroid tests in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and specifically about the drug test failure of Anderson Silva.
Gracie wasn't surprised to hear that Silva used steroids; if anything, he was surprised that Silva got caught since most athletes know how to time their steroid use to avoid detection. Gracie went on to say that Silva was not the only one using steroids. According to Gracie, everyone who has a realistic shot of competing in MMA is using steroids.
"Everybody is taking (steroids)," Gracie said. "The difference is that Anderson probably lost control of when the substance would be out of his body. Fighters who don't use (PEDs) can't compete in this sport.”
Silva tested positive for metabolites of drostanolone (aka Masteron) and androstane during an out-of-competition anti-doping test on January 9, 2015. A UFC 183 post-fight test also revealed the presence of drostanolone along with two additional banned drugs – the anti-anxiety medication Oxazepam (aka Serax) and anti-insomnia medication temazepam (aka Restoril) – on January 31, 2015.
Gracie couldn't explain why Silva was caught. He suggested that an alleged physical and psychological addiction to steroids may have caused Silva to take the steroids longer than he should have.
"I don't understand much about steroids, but I heard that substance is hard to catch," said Gracie. "For whatever reason, [Silva] was caught. I don't know if he took it longer than he should. The problem with those things is that you develop an addiction, both physically and psychologically."
Gracie acknowledged that there may be one or two MMA fighters who have never used steroids. But they are the exceptions rather than the rule. And, they also just happen to be two of Gracie's students that he oversees as the head instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy.
“There are some exceptional guys, like Frankie Edgar and Chris Weidman,” said Gracie. “Those two never took anything. I watch them closely. Everybody takes (steroids), except them. But they are rare cases.”
Gracie is well-known for his success as a MMA fighter who defeated five former UFC champions including Frank Shamrock, Carlos Newton, Pat Miletich, Maurice Smith and Oleg Taktarov. However, Gracie is probably best-known for the champions he has trained under his tutelage at the Renzo Gracie Academy; these include notables such as former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra.
Source:
St. Martin, D. (March 12, 2015). Morning Report: Renzo Gracie says 'everybody is taking steroids' except 'rare cases' like Chris Weidman and Frankie Edgar. Retrieved from http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/3/12/8196291/morning-report-ufc-185-renzo-gracie-steroids-anderson-silva-ronda-rousey-pettis-dana-white-mma-news
