The Ethics of Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Mixed Martial Arts

It is natural that a human body slows down in its mid-thirties. It is also as natural that some elite athletes will not be excited to accept the fact that they will not be able to practice and perform at the same pace and level as before. That is where the question whether something about it could be done arises. When natural methods seem to be inefficient, and steroids are unhealthy, risky, unethical and flatline stupid, an athlete may realise that retirement may be the best solution to his/her issue. However, it can be a hard decision to make to some athletes, especially in a sport like Mixed Martial Arts where fighter’s financial security is more of an exception than a rule.

Fortunately to some, a magical way to slow down the aging process has been found. Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) has proven to be a go to move for the fighters who have either made a decision to prolong their careers, have normal lives or even stay alive. Fighters such as Chael Sonnen, Frank Mir, Dan Henderson and Forrest Griffin have gotten exemptions that allow them to use testosterone therapy and have formed an infamous TRT club of mixed martial arts.

The reasons for the use of the testosterone replacement therapy are often hidden behind various issues. However, it is quite obvious that it is mainly used to slow down the aging process.  Amongst many advantages TRT users have reported increased alertness, concomitant decrease in body fat and increase in lean muscle mass. These often are the gains that commonly represent the advantages of multiple illegal substances used by cheating athletes wanting to perform at higher level.  One could ask how it is fair to the fighters who do not use TRT. Is natural aging a good enough reason to get a use exemption for something that could classify as a steroid? If that means that every fighter, older than 33 years of age will be legally juiced up, it will be an unprecedented situation in the whole community of sports.  In no way possible it is good for the sport. We can only suggest one thing – if an athlete needs TRT – he needs to retire.

An involuntary face of TRT use in MMA, Chael Sonnen, has gone as far as to state that he would die without Testosterone replacement therapy, and that is fine. However, many will agree that fighters who do not need TRT are being put in an unfair disadvantage. It would only make sense if the MMA commissions have agreed to force the fighters in need of TRT to retire.  But what stops them from doing that?

The only real reason why the use of TRT is still allowed in MMA is that retirement of such fighters as Chael Sonnen or Dan Henderson does not make sense to UFC as the vast majority of the members of the TRT club are still main event material. UFC is business and business often rises above ethics – as long as the organisation makes money with TRT – it will not oppose it. It is a closed circuit that could only be broken by constant pressure and minor scandals here and there – a tendency that could be noticed today. Therefore, stay positive – a future of MMA without TRT is quite a possibility.

That brings us to marijuana use in MMA. Next to the infamous TRT club there proudly stands another as controversial club: the MMA club of Weed with such prolific members as Diaz Brothers and Matt Riddle. MMA commissions maintain a strong negative stance against the use of marijuana amongst the fighters; therefore multiple athletes have faced suspensions and have lost their victories because marijuana metabolites have been found in their blood. It did not even matter that many of them had a legal right to consume marijuana.  

The views of the MMA commissions are quite obvious and acceptable. Elite MMA athletes set example for society and the future generations, therefore it does not matter whether marijuana improves or diminishes the performance of the smoking fighters. It is an illegal substance – therefore it should be eliminated from the mixed martial arts. Fair enough. But how about the testosterone replacement therapy? Isn’t TRT exemption generally the same thing as a medical marijuana card? And aren’t both, testosterone therapy and marijuana equally illegal without exemptions or medical cards? Why be so irregular with the rules? Why accept some flaws but deny others? Again, it is quite simple – fighters who smoke – can fight without marijuana; fighters under TRT would either lose their main event worthy skills or could not fight without it. It is business. Business as usual, Mr White.