Whenever people look at the ridiculous build of UFC heavyweight star Alistair Overeem, there’s usually a few things that cross most fans’ minds.
“I need to go back to the gym.”
“What does he bench press?”
“Good lord, that doesn’t look real.”
In the world of MMA, that last one can typically be the biggest problem.
Boxing, professional wrestling and MMA athletes can get away with a lot by using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and banned substances, but it’s substantially harder when you look like Overeem.
His recent positive test for high testosterone levels doesn’t really help, either.
That’s why “The Reem” isn’t helping himself when he tells the press (via Bloody Elbow) that he’s “probably not” going to do any more voluntary drug testing than is absolutely necessary.
From a cynical point of view, that’s expected for someone who’s under suspicion of using testosterone-related drugs and/or steroids. Or to be fair, maybe Overeem simply doesn’t want the distractions during his fight camps.
Either way, not doing the voluntary drug tests is a bad PR move.
Like it or not, the Blackzilians camp in Florida already has a bad reputation of recruiting past, present and suspected drug users.
Matt Mitrione infamously denied VADA blood testing (via MMA Junkie) prior to his loss against Roy Nelson at the Ultimate Fighter 16 finale. Thiago Silva has been popped for marijuana and a false urine sample. Melvin Guillard has a past history of cocaine use on his record.
And most recently, Vitor Belfort was put under public scrutiny for fumbling his way through a question from ESPN about whether or not he uses testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), a controversial, but legal, method of turning back your physical clock.
If there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
And judging by the smell in the air whenever Overeem enters a room, something’s definitely burning.
Maybe he doesn’t care if the MMA media and fanbase suspect him of being on PEDs, but as long as Overeem and the Blackzilians fail to spearhead rumors and doubts, that smoke’s going to linger for a long, long time.
McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and FightFans Radio writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld and PC World. Talk with him on Twitter.
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