In a recent interview conducted by ESPN The Magazine, Dana white is speaks about the recent steroid frenzy and his thoughts on the situation.
ESPN The Magazine conducted a pretty in-depth interview on White's thoughts on the steroid situation going on in the UFC.
White expresses his beliefs about UFC Lightweight champion Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk and Hermes Franca, both whom tested positive after their showdown at UFC 73.
Dana White's opinions about Sherk are the following:ESPN The Magazine: How did you feel personally when Sherk [allegedly] flunked his test?
A bit on the positive side, however, White couldn't have said the same for Sherk's challenger
White: I've known Sean Sherk for a long time. He's a really good man. He trains hard and has worked hard to get where he's at. You and me probably have six nanograms [of the steroid Nandrolone] in our system; he had 12. Other guys who've been busted for the same steroid have had over 50 nanograms in their system. What my experts tell me is, there's no way that he would only have 12 in his system. I'm not his father. If he did it, he'll have to face the consequences. People make mistakes. If your life was over every time you make a mistake, that's pretty f---ing harsh. How many times do I have to tell people not to use steroids? It's to the point where it's just stupid.ESPN The Magazine: One of the things Hermes Franca hinted at was that he was forced to take steroids because he had an injury but he had to fight.
Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca will go before the CSAC in a hearing this Monday, August 6. Sherk will be appealing the steroid claims and Franca will be asking for a lighter sentence.
White: That's one of the dumbest things ever said. He said he twisted his ankle. It happens all the time. He called us and said he was hurt. Two days later, he said he could fight. Nobody is ever forced to fight. I can go down the list and tell you 50 guys who've pulled out of fights because of an injury.
Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk is the UFC's current lightweight champion. Sherk won the lightweight title, vacant at the time, to Kenny Florian by unanimous decision at UFC 64: Unstoppable on Oct. 14, 2006. Sherk recently made his first title defense against challenger Hermes Franca at UFC 73: stacked on July 7, 2007. Sherk tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite following his title defense, which he has chosen to appeal on August 6.
Hermes Franca was Sherk's challenger for the lightweight title and lost by unanimous decision. Franca was on an eight-fight-win streak before falling to Sean Sherk. Hermes Franca also tested for steroids after his bout with Sherk, which he will be asking for a lighter sentence for on August 6.
Franca had released an apology and confession prior to the tests to MMAWeekly.com.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Steroids Update: White Speaks About Sherk, Franca
Posted by Masson Liang at 10:33 AM
Tags: Dana White, Hermes Franca, Sean Sherk, Steroids, UFC
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5 Comments:
Dana or someone really needs to get a hold of this situation. I heard about a new interview where he said that until a fighter tests clean he would withhold bonus's. That is for sure a step in the right direction but i think its crucial that we clean up MMA right now before this really hurts the sport.
Yeah, Dana White should be more harsh about it because the bigger name fighters will still be tempted to do steroids because their base salary is already pretty decent.
This article is referring to the White interview you are talking about, it was conducted by ESPN The Magazine (linked in the article).
most of the top level athletes are already on. If you have ever trained hard in MMA you know your body just breaks down. Steroids allow these athletes to continue fighting month after month with no real break. I am sure some of the top guys are clean but there are way more that are not. You expect these guys to perform at super human levels and then boo them when they fatigue. The chances of getting tested other than a title fight are slim, so what reason would they have to not take the stuff? Because you say steroids are bad? The lower level guys will fight 4 or more times in a month can you even fathom what that does to a regular body? So they take nandrolone (Deca) it aids in protien synthesis and helps your joints and muscles repair themselves. They are not popping for sustanon 250 or anadrol that will make them freakishly strong and big; they aren't taking EPO to make their cardio go through the roof they are testing for something that helps their bodies get back to normal after a lot of abuse. Royce, Phil, Hermes, Sean all juicers all popped for the same drug dont you find that a little odd. Think about it people should they be tested if yes then quit booing if the fight isnt fast paced. Lets face it everyone who has ever watched Big Tim Sylvia fight would agree that they should let him take it just so we dont have to see his grotesque physique, or let him wear a shirt when he fights. Anyway that will give you something to chew on. Feel free to comment back.
Very solid comment "anonymous." I do see where you're coming from.
I personally cannot stand when uneducated fans boo because the two fighters are smashing each other's face every second of the fight.
However, I think the fighters should just do what they do best and fight, steroid free.
Maybe in a perfect world when Dana "Super Cheap" White and the powers that be will allow other than flawless competitors a chance at the "Super Bowl" of MMA we will see a steroid free enviornment. When smaller fight promoters start paying more than $250-1000 for a fight maybe then? I doubt it. Just a small bit of info that you probably already know but some others may not. Even if if you hit the big show the UFC often only pays $2500 a fight until you hit a major competitor so you train years fight in back door shows and finally make it to the UFC you get $2500.00 for years of your blood gallons of your sweat? No you get even less for medical fees, eye exams, blood work, corner man fees, taxes, and anything else they can think to tack on.
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