Nastula and Belfort tests positive

[krikit]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=2841&z=2

[Desdichado]

"MMAWeekly has learned that Vitor Belfort and Pawel Nastula tested positive for banned substances after their respective fights on Pride's "Real Deal" card this past Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada."

The story is here (http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=2841&zoneid=2).

Nooo, I don't want it to be true. I thought Nastula was amazing. (Belfort on the other was ... well, Belfort.)

[Desdichado]

Beat by krikit with a minute or so ...

[seese]

LOL at Belfort testing positive.

Sad to see Nastula doing it though.

[Kayo]

That's a damn shame especially considering they both lost.

Bad for Pride, first show in US and two of their fighters test positive. *shaking head*

[heckyl]

LMAO.

[migo]

And everyone was worried about Barnett. Don't they randomly test 2 fighters along with the main event? That's 100% of the ones they tested.

[Shinbone]

And why is it that I'm not surprised?

[Herbo]

Nandrolone isnt banned in all countries. It may even be available over the counter in Poland, Im not sure. Being the level Judoka he is though, he should know its illegal in the US.

[migs]

I thought Belfort was looking natural compared to how he often does. I guess he just couldn't resist a little something but that is not really a steroid.

As for Nastula, I just presumed he was a natural guy. Just the genes of a friggin stud gold medalist...that's a shame. Well he can go back to Japan and crank all he wants there.

[migs]

Belfort looked pretty clean compared to usual. That isn't really a steroid but stupid of him anyway. I think he tried to be clean but it's hard for guys that live off the stuff for so long to just go cold turkey.

I've been around lots of heavy users and some guys really need it...it's like crack for them.

[Gomez]

What? Where's Hammer House?

[( o Y o )]

thanks all...threads merged in order of time posted I think

[Desdichado]

Yep. Thanks ( o Y o ).

I thought this part of the now updated story was interesting:

"The normal pattern in recent years has been for two-to-six fighters to be drug tested after an MMA event in Nevada. However, ten fighters were drug tested on a random basis after their fights at Pride: The Real Deal, which is largest amount at any Nevada-based MMA event in the past several years."

I don't want to get too conspiratorial, but I wonder what the reason for this was. Of course, the most logical thing would be to test all fighters in all events.

[kumikala]

What? Where's Hammer House?

Yeah. Randleman, Coleman and Baroni tested negative. That's amazing news right there :) One could think that they must have took something to get those frames, and the fact that they all fight in Pride where they aren't tested for steroids indicates that they still use questionable substances...BUT NO! Hammerpunch in your face sceptics! They are au naturel! (At least nowadays...)

[Sixtus]

Not to knock any fighters but its been common practice for a long time for a large amount pro athletes to take illegal substances and hide it from testers. The ones who get caught are usually less experienced, have less money or just get careless. It’s a sad truth but you would be silly to feel sure that athletes don’t use illegal substances if they haven't been caught. At times it has come out in unofficial ways and the general public tend to be fine with ignoring it.

[gols]

I don't want to get too conspiratorial, but I wonder what the reason for this was. Of course, the most logical thing would be to test all fighters in all events.

It might be because there were no prelim fights on the Pride show, all the fights were on the 'main card'.

[MZN]

The way Belfort fought it would have made far more sense that he got tested positive for smoking pot.

[heckyl]

The way Belfort fought it would have made far more sense that he got tested positive for smoking pot.


bwahahahahaha oh boy...

[FieldingMellish]

Not to knock any fighters but its been common practice for a long time for a large amount pro athletes to take illegal substances and hide it from testers. The ones who get caught are usually less experienced, have less money or just get careless. It’s a sad truth but you would be silly to feel sure that athletes don’t use illegal substances if they haven't been caught. At times it has come out in unofficial ways and the general public tend to be fine with ignoring it.

Very true. Performance enhancing drugs are rife in any sport.

And very often a drug test is as much an IQ test as anything else. Can you cycle it properly? Do you use the right masking agents? Do you choose drugs that could conceivably be taken 'accidentally' (note to Stephan Bonnar - horse medicine does NOT count here)?

Its a shame but its the nature of professional sports.

And to be honest, I can see the value in just letting all athletes in all sports just take whatever they want. Though that may be an unpopular view.

[Shinobu]

Very true. Performance enhancing drugs are rife in any sport.

And very often a drug test is as much an IQ test as anything else. Can you cycle it properly? Do you use the right masking agents? Do you choose drugs that could conceivably be taken 'accidentally' (note to Stephan Bonnar - horse medicine does NOT count here)?

Its a shame but its the nature of professional sports.

And to be honest, I can see the value in just letting all athletes in all sports just take whatever they want. Though that may be an unpopular view.
I agree with what you said (and the other guy as well).
With the exception of letting guys (and girls for that matter) take whatever they want. Sure it would level the playing field but the health risks would be unbearable.
You probably think: Those are all grown ups, they can decide for themselves. And you're right about that. Competitive athletes don't start as grown ups though, and as childs they don't have the knowledge and the awareness to think about health issues. We've all seen where this led in the GDR and the USSR-I'm not too excited to see that happening again.

[seese]

You probably think: Those are all grown ups, they can decide for themselves. And you're right about that. Competitive athletes don't start as grown ups though, and as childs they don't have the knowledge and the awareness to think about health issues. We've all seen where this led in the GDR and the USSR-I'm not too excited to see that happening again.

Word. I agree as well.
And letting these substances free would make the difference between A and B fighters even more clear as money will be an issue too (doctors, travelling, best substances) etc.

[Sudoraba]

I was so right to bet on Dan Henderson, sweetest 15 bucks I ever won. Well that next to the 45 bucks I won betting on Anderson Silva. Obviously I'm a high stakes kind of guy.

[heckyl]

hahahaha ^^ im not one to go dropping hundreds of dollars on fights either. 5 or 10 dollars here or there is enough for me. maybe 20.

[Grant Ellis]

The banned substances won't make you a better fighter though, a lot of it is cosmetic.

[( o Y o )]

I have always thougt they should have a steroid olympics personally. Lets have two....one with natural only, and one freak event where we can see just what controlled dopping could do to our records :-D

[ArtOfWar]

I actually agree with the use of performance enhancing drugs. It is likely that a lot of folks use them; why give the disadvantage to people who dont? But I would insist that it be regulated; I'd hate to be the person to piss off a drunk guy with 200 times the normal concentration of testosterone.

That raises its own issues; legalize some and ban some. Soon everyone is the same level and there will always be the person who would find a method to take the stuff to make him better than others...and the cycle starts again; only a lot more viciously.

For that reason alone maybe banning everything is the only solution...maybe?

[migo]

Banning them obviously doesn't stop people from using them.

[FieldingMellish]

The banned substances won't make you a better fighter though, a lot of it is cosmetic.

Totally depends on the substance. A banned steroid thats main use is to help heal muscle tears should certianly make an injured fighter a better one.

And if its just cosmetic then how come Sylvia and Barnett still looked awful when they were on the juice?

[Baggen]

And if its just cosmetic then how come Sylvia and Barnett still looked awful when they were on the juice?

Supply in the us were low? :D

[FieldingMellish]

Supply in the us were low? :D

LOL, that must be it.

[Sixtus]

The banned substances won't make you a better fighter though, a lot of it is cosmetic.

They obviously do make you a better fighter, they make you stronger or faster, etc.. They don’t make you a good fighter though, but they will make a good fighter better. There is no way to stop athletes from using them and if they are legal then there would be a lot of young athletes seriously damaging their health which is not what people want. Though I'm not an expert or anything, haven't tried any myself.. =)

[heckyl]

Grants comment pertains to the fact that substance does not give you more skills. working hard and learning gives you more skills.

[Grant Ellis]

Totally depends on the substance. A banned steroid thats main use is to help heal muscle tears should certianly make an injured fighter a better one.

And if its just cosmetic then how come Sylvia and Barnett still looked awful when they were on the juice?

The steroid won't improve your technique at all.

I have beaten amateurs who were admittedly on steroids and I think if they spent the time and energy they took researching drugs and cycling them, and put those efforts into learning the sport, then they would have maybe done better.

[ArtOfWar]

Banning them obviously doesn't stop people from using them.

Agreed. There is always a loop-hole or a way out isn't it?

I was thinking of more severe sports like cricket for example. Match fixing, steroid taking etc results in life time ban. So the decision players have to make is which do they love more; the sport, or winning no matter what.

Ahh, its a very complicated issue for sure...

[migs]

Totally depends on the substance. A banned steroid thats main use is to help heal muscle tears should certianly make an injured fighter a better one.

And if its just cosmetic then how come Sylvia and Barnett still looked awful when they were on the juice?

A lot of it is just about the power and strength. Barnett might not look like Baroni but he clearly has a few extra pounds of muscle on him when he is not natural. Look at Barnett a couple weeks ago and look at him a few months ago in the OWGP. That bit of strength can make you that much better if your skill levels are close. I personally think it helps on the ground much more than standing but...

I shouldn't say it like it is fact. I could be wrong but I have been around a lot of that stuff and lots of guys look like they use at least some of the time.

[gols]

Nastula quite the druggie it seems:

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=17770

[FieldingMellish]

Nastula quite the druggie it seems:

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=17770

That man clearly likes his 'supplements'.

[( o Y o )]

Nastula quite the druggie it seems:

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=17770

Hell.....might as well try a bit of everything :-D

[Cracked_Knuckle]

Funny the most decorated fighterr is full of roids :D

[( o Y o )]

http://66.232.103.80/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=2916&zoneid=3

One of their responses to the commisson.

[heckyl]

he is just mad he didnt know he had to take a masking agent for it.

[Kayo]

Vitor needs to team up w/ Dr. Phil and Hammerhouse. That way he could get his shit together mentally/emotionally and be able to hide the steroids, too.