Fighters wanting to get temporary use exemption (TUE) for TRT will be facing strong opposition as they try to get licensed. State athletic commissions are now going to make it difficult for fighters who have past steroid use to get the exemption as well.  Keith Kizer, executive director of NSAC, has made it clear that Vitor Belfort will probably not get approved for the TUE.

Belfort was allowed to use TRT prior to his UFC on FX 7 bout with Michael Bisping, he won the fight by TKO in the 2^nd round .The fight took place in Brazil where the UFC acted as its own commission. UFC President Dana White has already made it clear that he is not a fan of TRT, and will subject fighters using the exemption to random drug tests. It was reported that Belfort passed all drug tests administered by the UFC.

Belfort though will face very stiff opposition in Nevada because he previously tested positive for steroids there in 2006 after he fought Dan Henderson at Pride 32. Due to this he has a history of abusing the drug, and there for acquiring a TUE for TRT from the NSAC, and many other state commissions, will be difficult for him. He claimed that the positive test was because he unknowingly took a steroid. The Nevada Commission did not believe him and handed him a 9-month suspension.

“I don’t see Vitor Belfort getting a TRT exemption from us,” said Kizer.  “I really don’t and I feel kind of bad for him in some ways because if he has learned from his mistakes and now he’s trying to do it the right way and his levels are low with the treatment good for him and I hope he is doing that.”

Some may point to Chael Sonnen’s situation as the baseline. Sonnen though never tested positive for a steroid, he was suspended due to having high levels of testosterone. You may call this semantics, but it is how the rules are in place. Sonnen was then given a TRT exemption, and still fights today with that exemption.

“The rules are the rules and you have to draw the line somewhere,” said Kizer.

Due to that positive steroid test we may never see Belfort fight in the United States ever again. It is a shame, because he is one of the all-time greats and looks to be back to his winning ways.

Belfort is scheduled to fight Luke Rockhold on May 18^th on UFC on FX 8 at Arena Jaragua Do Sul in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Quotes courtesy of BleacherReport.com

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