Anyone Else Suspicious of GSP?

I know, innocent until proven guilty but I have to wonder if Georges St-Pierre is on the juice and I am certainly not the first to be suspicious. With just a week to go before his title defense against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 on November 16th I thought this was a good time to discuss recent red flags. Initially the St-Pierre camp wanted to use an alternate drug testing company, had unusual testing questions and more that even raised the eyebrows of UFC president Dana White. According to sources at BJPenn.com both fighters originally agreed to be tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but oddly GSP's attorney asked questions like what they test for and wanted to have predetermined dates for testing. GSP's team then suggested using Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) but the Nevada State Athletic Commission even suggested the use of WADA. On top of that, according to Hendricks manager, Ted Ehrhardt, GSP has a connection with VADA. These are some very suspicious actions and questions from the GSP camp. GSP has passed a few tests already as seen in second picture above that he recently tweeted. People don't normally go out of their way to show they are clean which makes me even more suspicious that GSP is trying to hide something. Although we have to give him the benefit of the doubt, don't forget other sports MVP's have lied to the sporting world before only to be caught later on.

80-Year-Old Weightlifter Busted for Steroids

According to news outlets like the Associated Press and Fox Sports, 80-year-old weightlifter Don Ramos has recently been suspended for two years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for steroids. Ramos tested positive in June while attempting an age group world record at the Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championships. While most people suspect the young for steroid use this just goes to show the elderly use as well. When it comes to competitions and unfair advantages age does not matter.

The Ladies of MMA on the Juice Too

MMA fighters often claim high usage rates of steroids, PED's, TRT usage and more among their fellow fighters which I wouldn't be surprised about being such a physical sport. What does surprise me is the number of female fighters doing the same. Carina Damm has recently been linked to this seedy side of the sport for a second time. Damm was the first female MMA fighter to be suspended in the United States for steroid use after testing positive for Nandrolone back in 2008. Just recently she submitted a pre-fight urine sample that was found to be some other substance than urine for her bout this past June against Jessica Eye which she lost via unanimous decision. Damm was fined $550 and suspended six months by the Ohio State Athletic Commission. Just like her last suspension, Damm went back to fight in her native Brazil who seem to have lax testing standards and do not have to honor suspensions from other countries. With Cris Cyborg and Carina Damm found guilty and several female fighters drawing suspicion I wonder how rampant steroid and PED usage is in Women's MMA?

Hall of Shame

Not one Major League Baseball player received enough votes on the 2013 MLB Hall of Fame ballot to be inducted. Steroid linked players Roger Clemens (37.6%), Barry Bonds (36.2%), Mark McGwire (16.9%), Sammy Sosa (12.5%) and Rafael Palmeiro (8.8%) were all well short of the 75% of votes needed to be enshrined. Did MLB voters make the right decision or risk being called the Hall of Shame? I see both sides of the argument and will leave that up to the public. I am still waiting for Pete Rose to be reinstated for eligibility but that doesn't look like it will ever happen.

Four 2004 Olympians Stripped of Medals for Steroids

Last week the International Olympic Committee officially stripped medals from four 2004 Olympians after new analysis confirmed traces of steroids. Yuri Belonog of Ukraine was stripped of the shot put gold medal, Ivan Tikhon of Belarus was stripped of the hammer silver medal, Svetlana Krivelyova of Russia stripped of the shot put bronze medal and Irina Yatchenko of Belarus was stripped of her discus bronze medal. The IOC recently had a laboratory reanalyze 105 tests from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games which has the most failed dope tests in Olympic history.

World Discus Champion Darya Pishchalnikova Tests Positive for Steroids

2011 world discus champion and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Darya Pishchalnikova recently tested positive for an anabolic steroid and now faces a lifetime ban if found guilty. Already suspended once before for almost three years after Pishchalnikova and six other female Russian athletes manipulated drug samples prior to the 2008 Olympics. Currently Darya has the right to have her B sample tested and appeal the findings. The list of Olympic athletes using steroids and other banned substances continues to grow. Who will be next?

MMA Fighter Stephan Bonnar Fails UFC 153 Post Fight Drug Test

MMA fighter Stephan Bonnar has reportedly failed his post fight drug test from UFC 153 on October 13th. Sources state Bonnar tested positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone. Bonnar also failed a post fight drug test for boldenone back in August 2006 at UFC 62. Bonnar lost both fights and recently retired from the sport of MMA following his loss at UFC 153.

Belarus Shot Putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk Stripped of Olympic Gold Medal

The International Olympic Committee confirmed that Belarus shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk was stripped of the gold medal she recently won at the 2012 London Olympic Games for a positive test of a banned anabolic steroid. Only time and tests will tell if more Olympic athletes cheated.

MMA Fighter Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante Tests Postive for Steroids

MMA fighter Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante failed a recent drug test following his win over Mike Kyle in May. The failed test was due to the synthetic anabolic steroid Stanozolol which is commonly used by athletes. The California State Athletic Commission overturned his latest victory on May 19th over Mike Kyle to a no-contest, fined him $2,500 and suspended Cavalcante for a year. Cavalcante's camp has appealed and awaiting a hearing date.

Do You Believe Cyborg?

It's good to see an athlete take responsibility for their mistakes but they never admit to knowingly taking anything illegal and always make an excuse or play dumb and say they had no idea. I just don't buy it, do you? Just admit you cheated and move on. In this case Cris "Cyborg" Santos, a mixed martial arts fighter claims she had no idea she was taking steroids and thought it was something for weight loss. Then she goes on to state that steroids don't make you stronger or give you an advantage. What, are you kidding me? Cyborg is a beast that completely destroys any opponent that she faces and many believe it was obvious she has been on steroids for a long time. I guess there is no certain proof of that and you have to give someone the benefit of the doubt but you have to question cases like this. Her recent positive test for steroids resulted in a one year ban from mixed martial arts and stripped of her title belt.

MMA Fighter Cris Cyborg Santos Tests Positive for Steroids

Last week news broke that Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg Santos tested positive for stanozolol metabolites. This had to be a question for quite some time as Cyborg is freakishly strong, ripped physique and dominates anyone who gets in the cage with her. As of now she has been suspended for one year, fined $2,500 and stripped of her championship belt which may also see the dissolution of the weight class at Strikeforce.

Women Soccer Players on the Juice Too

Women take steroids to cheat too.  At the soccer Women's World Cup five North Korean players tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid.  The cases will be reviewed by FIFA and each player could face a ban of up to two years.  As usual there is some far fetched story of why they were taking this.  After a lighting strike the players accidentally took the steroids with traditional Chinese medicines which they claim can be confused with each other.  Doesn't make sense and how was it an accident?  You cheated and you got caught.

Barry Bonds - Who Cares?

So the Barry Bonds hearing is over as of a couple of weeks ago and we all know he was found guilty of obstruction of justice.  A mistrial was declared on the three perjury counts.  Case closed, we all know he cheated with steroids and hope we don't hear more.  I do think that all 105 or whatever the number of players named in the Balco report should be publicly named.  If we know some of the names why not all of them?  They should all be treated the same, as cheaters!  Release the list and let's finally move on.

MMA Fighter Shane Carwin and Other Professionals Linked to Steroid Dealer

Steroid-dealing pharmacist Michael Bennett of Mobile, AL was sentenced to four years in prison for his part in a nationwide conspiracy to sell steroids.  Bennett's signature or initials for steroid orders were found for the professional athletes of MMA fighter Shane Carwin, wrestlers Kurt Angle and Bob Howard and bodybuilders Quincy Taylor, Toney Freeman, Dennis Newman and Troy Zuccolotto.  Several other professional wrestlers, bodybuilders and baseball players are referenced by initials as well.

Koscheck hopes GSP not greasing or juicing.

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been accused by several fighters of greasing and taking steroids in the past so this just ads to the fire as Josh Koscheck wants Olympic-style testing.  Koscheck and St-Pierre will face off at the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter season 12 which is currently taping.  For more on this story check out Caged Insider.

Horses on Steroids

Yes even horses take steroids to get an unfair advantage and win races.  Horse trainers Mary Wolfson and Nick Canani were fined after their horses were found to have prohibited substances in test samples.  Wolfson was fined $3,000 after horses Jessica Is Back and Miss Singhsix finished second and third in the Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course with positive tests for prednisone, a synthetic steroid.  Canini was fined $1,000 and suspended 15 days after his horse Copper Forest won the second race at Arlington on May 6 and tested positive for etodolac, a banned non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Steroids Ok in the NFL?

Steroids are not allowed in the NFL but it sure seems that way.  Defensive rookie of the year Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans was recently suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season by the league after violating its steroid policy.  In addition the Associated Press decided to re-vote for the defensive rookie of the year award and was once again given to Brian Cushing.  Once he was stripped of the award for cheating by taking steroids you would think he would have been left off the ballot on the re-vote.  I think the NFL is sending a bad message here.

McGwire Admits to Steroid Use

After years of speculation and scrutiny from the public, baseball star Mark McGwire finally admits to using steroids.  He admitted to using steroids on occasion throughout the 1990's including his historic 1998 season when he hit a season record 70 home runs.  Check out this CBS news report. Looks like Jose Canseco was right again about the home run fix during the 90's.