Randy Couture discusses Steroids in MMA - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Dr.Chicago · 08-17-2007, 04:36 AM

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Randy Couture on Steroids in MMA

By Jeff Cain - MMAWeekly.com
Friday, August 17, 2007

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Current UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy "The Natural" Couture doesn't think steroid use in mixed martial arts is any bigger of a problem than it is in any other professional sport. He attributed much of the issue to the culture of a society always looking for a shortcut.

You cannot turn on a news telecast lately where the topic of steroids in sports isn't being discussed. If it's not Chris Benoit and professional wrestling's policies on steroid use, it's Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's home run record and Bonds' alleged steroid use stemming from the Balco debacle.

But how big of an issue is it in MMA? Couture commented, "I don't think it's any bigger of an issue in our sport than any other sport, and I think of all the sports out there, mixed martial arts, and the UFC in particular has chosen to run toward regulation. The commissions deal pretty harshly with these athletes that come up positive."

Couture continued, "Unfortunately, our society, we're always looking for a shortcut. Athletes are always looking for a shortcut. They want results now, and they don't always want to pay the price. As long as that's the case and there's a lot of money at stake, guys are going to take the risk."

The media spotlight and steroid coverage turned towards MMA after Royce Gracie and professional football player turned "fighter," Johnnie Morton, tested positive following K-1's June 2 card in Los Angeles; mainly due to Johnnie Morton being a recognizable name to the mainstream media.

Twenty days later, Phil Baroni tested positive following his Strikeforce middleweight championship bout with Frank Shamrock in San Jose.

The media attention intensified when UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk and his opponent, Hermes Franca, tested positive following their UFC 73 title bout in Sacramento.

The UFC heavyweight champ stated, "It's odd to me that a lot of these positive tests are happening in the state of California. So I'm curious to see how Sean Sherk's appeal comes out and what exactly are the testing procedures in California that so many of these guys in California are coming up positive. I don't know if their protocol is different, or what the deal is going on in California, but something seems to be up there.

“I think overall our sport and our athletes are doing a good job. Can you imagine what would happen if they tested every football player that played in every NFL game? What kind of mess would there be?"

Ten out of Randy's last eleven fights have been for a UFC title. He's provided his fair share of samples to athletic commissions to be tested. That coupled with his extensive background in international wrestling competition and the U.S. Olympic wrestling team makes Couture somewhat of an authority on testing procedures and policies.

Asked how MMA steroid testing stacks up against international doping policies, Couture answered, "The protocol isn't nearly as strict. My experience with random testing and the handbook that you get from the U.S. Olympic Committee on banned substances and the explanation of the testing procedures, the out of competition and in competition testing that's done is very, very rigorous, very strict.

“The commissions do a pretty good job. They're basically attached to you. As soon as you finish that fight you have a commissioner that's right by your side and he follows you everywhere you go and watches everything you do until you give that sample in the cup. You're right there. You witness them sealing everything up and putting everything away. I'm not saying it's faulty or that it's bad. I don't think that it is. It's certainly not nearly as strict as what I've seen with the USCO."

Source: MMA WEEKLY - Your #1 Source for Daily MMA News, Interviews, Multimedia, and More

First of all, I gotta say; I have all the respect in the world for Randy..

But, don't you guys feel like he's doing a whole lot of media exposure?? Interviews, Radio, and TV shows.. etc.

My point is, I believe that all of this can distract the fighter from being %100 for his fight.. Look to what happened to Chuck and GSP.. We heard they were partying more than they were supposed to before their loses.. Were these just rumors, I don't know?

What do you guys think?

mxfuel · 08-17-2007, 07:26 AM

Whew!!! By reading the title of the thread fast I thought Randy got busted. :sport-smi Hope he kicks some butt in a week.

The Bodybag · 08-17-2007, 08:51 AM

I dont think its the same as Chuck or GSP, he's not partying or getting plastered, he's being a great ambassador for the fight world. I could see what you mean by distracting, the whole Rocky III situation. But it seems to me all these interviews have been happening right when he gets out of a training session, or when he is begining to slow it down around fight time.

Either way, if Randy started slacking with strategy and training, he would still still have more elaborate gameplans and cardio than most fighters.

asronn · 08-17-2007, 09:08 AM

I dont Chuck or GSP lost because of distractions during training. They both lost very early in there fight because they got caught with a punch that stunned them. Randy will be ready to go.

jm1010 · 08-17-2007, 11:46 AM

Randy is a veteran and knows how to manage his time and priorities. I think he will be just fine.

By the way the title kind of scared me for a minute.

AikaImmortal · 08-17-2007, 11:49 AM

Yeah, changed the title to make people not kill over and die

marnold · 08-17-2007, 11:50 AM

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Originally Posted by mxfuel

Whew!!! By reading the title of the thread fast I thought Randy got busted. :sport-smi Hope he kicks some butt in a week.

So did I. Have we not learned from Rocky III? Too much media and not enough training will cause a mohawk wearing man to beat you down.

jm1010 · 08-17-2007, 11:54 AM

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Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Yeah, changed the title to make people not kill over and die

Your a good man Aika.

The Seeker · 08-17-2007, 12:12 PM

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Originally Posted by The Bodybag

I dont think its the same as Chuck or GSP, he's not partying or getting plastered, he's being a great ambassador for the fight world. I could see what you mean by distracting, the whole Rocky III situation. But it seems to me all these interviews have been happening right when he gets out of a training session, or when he is begining to slow it down around fight time.

Agreed. I don't think Randy would allow all of the press sessions to get in the way of his main objective. He's a smart athlete, listens to his body and keeps his focus on the task at hand.

When you aren't training, there's plenty of time to do interviews and such, and I think he likes being involved, as he is a great ambassador for the sport. If he were in a position where all of the requests were becoming a bit onerous, he'd politely decline.

Dr.Chicago · 08-17-2007, 12:41 PM

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Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Yeah, changed the title to make people not kill over and die

Thanx Aika.. Didn't expect the title to scare people to death when I made the thread..

Kaledonia · 08-17-2007, 12:49 PM

Randy knows hes on the way out, hes making every dollar he can whilst hes at the top of the mountain, proving hes a smart guy!

Randy "talks" steroids lol, nearly caught me offguard that one did...