Georges St-Pierre doesn’t seem in any hurry to get back inside the Octagon.
The former UFC welterweight champion stepped aside from fighting in 2013, partly due to what he described as a lack of oversight concerning performance-enhancing drugs in the sport.
In 2014 St-Pierre said he was ‘very disappointed’ in the UFC’s lack of support for his wish to see an increase in random drug testing. But last month St-Pierre admitted the UFC’s new anti-doping policies were a ‘step in the right direction’ to bring him back to fighting.
UFC partnered with the United States Anti Doping Associate earlier this year to handle drug-testing procedures, but USADA made waves when it called for a ban of post-weigh-in rehydration with IVs.
According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart, IVs over 50ml are allowed until Oct. 1 as a sort of grace period.
While a number of active fighters bemoaned the move, St-Pierre believes the ban will help keep athletes honest.
“I believe it’s a good thing, to tell you the truth”, St-Pierre told GNPTV. “If it’s not your division, stay to your own division.”
“You see guys that lose an incredible amount of weight. For my part I used to weigh around 190. I lose 20 pounds, which is relatively small right now for a welterweight. Most guys are over 200 pounds and I always find it fascinating.”
For a fan of platelet-rich plasma therapy and shark cartilage supplements St-Pierre doesn’t like seeing technology helping athletes gain too much of an edge.
“Now it’s not only a question of who’s better and who’s more well prepared, it’s also a question of technology,” said St-Pierre. “The more you allow technology to play out on the result of a sporting event the more you take away the real talent, the real skill question. That’s why I believe it’s a good thing. I think it should be illegal.
“It’s a new rule. Everybody would have to adapt, but I think everybody can adapt if they do it well. And also, the IV thing, the reason why I think it should be banned is because sometimes IVs could be used to mask certain performance-enhancing drugs. It’s good. I think it’s a good thing.”
St-Pierre believes the move could also spur the UFC to create even more weight divisions, but that he’d still have a home at 170 pounds.
“I don’t know if they are ready for this,” said St-Pierre. “It will make more belts. I know on the business standpoint it’s a good thing to do. But for me, fighting at 170, for my body, I wouldn’t mind not using the IV. I wouldn’t mind. It wouldn’t change anything.”
St-Pierre admits having used IVs to rehydrate in the past, but has no issue seeing them go.
“I already did before, most people did,” St-Pierre said of IV use.. “IV is a salty solution. It’s used in American football by many athletes, but if it’s banned, it’s banned. You can’t be against the virtue. I think it’s a good move. Yes it is.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Fire. Dominick Cruz calls UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw ‘nothing but a wannabe.’ ‘I look forward to going out there and proving that I’m the best in the world.’
PRIDE never die. Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira plan to have another war at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.
‘It was bad timing, for sure.’ Coach Duane Ludwig apologizes for his ‘stupid’ Team Alpha Male comments, but says T.J. Dillashaw trains ‘differently.’
Ouch. Jake Shields says he’s going to ‘try to break’ one of Rousimar Palhares‘ bones at WSOF 22. ‘If I get an armbar, if I get a heel hook or something, I’m gonna grab it and try to crank it as hard as I possibly can and try to break it.’
Skyscraper. UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve says he’s been fighting his entire career at 60 percent due to his heart defect. ‘Now that my heart output has improved so much, I really plan to start doing that more and more, and really just score knockout after knockout.’
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 190: Shogun Rua vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Ronda Rousey explains prolonging punishment of Bethe Correia at UFC 190.
King Mo has beef with everyone.
Highlights from around the regional scene.
Nice profile on Fallon Fox [Be nice or be silent, guys]
Conor McGregor says he’s trying to buy a tiger.
Long watches.
UFC 190: Unibet Presents Inside The Octagon Rousey vs. Correia (Dan Hardy)
…
TWEETS
Soon.
#4horsewomen here comes the Fourth #UFC190 #Aug1st #andSTILL https://t.co/JzX6b8n2GR
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) July 29, 2015
Hungry.
so disappointed I watched the fight. I need to fight next month!No marks from the fight& can’t be benched again I am so much more.
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) July 28, 2015
Take a week off. Then back to the gym. #whosnext #imready #IrishDragon #phillypride #bmfranch #renzophilly
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) July 29, 2015
I would fight tomorrow if @danawhite @ufc let me.Im hungry now but that fight could work. Love Australia sounds cool https://t.co/L9R8Mp4ip1
— Gian Villante (@GPVillante) July 28, 2015
We won’t be stopped. Right back in here getting better! @GPVillante pic.twitter.com/zxsNGGKJ8x
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 28, 2015
Beef.
JDS has good hands but.. This is my answer! http://t.co/hZCOZdgfeX
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) July 28, 2015
.@tabrizzle ur whack-because your another Turd nugget who gets beat down by silly Dilly in the gym. 3 years hurt to best 135er ever. I WIN
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) July 28, 2015
.@rgabbert1201 listen up lil girl-My UFC belt is in my living room. I’m just beating up ur boy toy cuz he’s next in line…Go get a pedi.
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) July 29, 2015
Fighting is not about Twitter. He called me out; I said yes. I’m done talking. Date, time and place is set. https://t.co/F16322HeRn
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) July 28, 2015
RIP.
For the American man who killed #CecilTheLion in Zimbabwe here ya go. #Hunting for the sake of… https://t.co/1KcRkRf37r
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) July 28, 2015
The guy is clearly an asshole. How can they have such a big smile on their faces like it’s ok? https://t.co/h6HERo0fM3
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 28, 2015
How do I not have the balls? He paid to kill a lion for fun. Legal or illegal, it’s innately wrong. Can’t you see? https://t.co/qsHLFY6kSi
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 28, 2015
Funny how simple old animals can have such an impact on us humans, RIP #CecilTheLion didn’t know I had so many of your pix saved in my phone
— TheOnceAndFutureKing (@BensonHenderson) July 29, 2015
I can’t understand how someone can think of killing such a magnificent animal as “fun”. #CecilTheLion https://t.co/6JpZDmFp4b
— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) July 28, 2015
Hurry back, GSP.
Had a lot of fun at the opening of the new @underarmour office in Munich! Great team, great people as always! pic.twitter.com/Rd62DGsKuQ
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) July 28, 2015
Careful.
Last game before you go see #minotauro # # Fejao at UFC minotoror Rafael Saturday pic.twitter.com/BRPjdLZp7w
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) July 29, 2015
Spend it on anything but a Tiger.
I’m winning on the numbers everywhere. https://t.co/uIIAhN2dH6
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 29, 2015
Longer than Shaq.
@DatDudeDHoov As long as she wanted me to last. I wanted to introduce myself to her at the ESPYs but didn’t want her to kick my butt.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 28, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (July 28 2015)
Thiago Silva out, Mike Kyle vs. Clifford Starks at WSOF 22
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.