Dana White is “shocked” that USADA didn’t catch former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw using EPO earlier. The UFC President isn’t happy with Dillashaw or USADA over this situation. Dillashaw accepted a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) earlier this week. Dillashaw was caught with EPO in his system and is ineligible to […]
Dana White is “shocked” that USADA didn’t catch former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw using EPO earlier. The UFC President isn’t happy with Dillashaw or USADA over this situation.
Dillashaw accepted a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) earlier this week. Dillashaw was caught with EPO in his system and is ineligible to compete until January 2021.
White talked about his reaction to the news following the UFC 236 weigh-ins from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This is where the UFC boss noted that he was shocked that USADA didn’t catch it earlier due to the fact that they don’t test for EPO every single time.
“What shocked me is what I’m paying USADA and that, that didn’t get caught earlier,” White said (H/T to MMAWeekly). “That’s what shocked me. I know [Jeff] Novitzky came out and explained it. He knows better than I do, but still, there’s no excuse for that, in my opinion.
“It bothers me. We’re spending all this money for USADA to make sure there’s a fair playing field, so I’m always 100-percent confident if you’re doing something, you’re going to get caught, and that wasn’t the case. That bothers me.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t take too kindly to performance-enhancing drug cheats. Bisping dealt with PED users for much of his career. Two of the Brit’s highest-profile defeats came at the hands of fighters who have been flagged for anti-doping violations in Chael Sonnen & Vitor Belfort. So when former bantamweight champion T.J. […]
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t take too kindly to performance-enhancing drug cheats.
Bisping dealt with PED users for much of his career. Two of the Brit’s highest-profile defeats came at the hands of fighters who have been flagged for anti-doping violations in Chael Sonnen & Vitor Belfort. So when former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw was suspended two years by USADA for EPO use, “The Count” had no sympathy.
“I just don’t understand it myself to be honest,” Bisping said on his “Believe You Me” podcast (h/t MMA News). “If you’re TJ Dillashaw, you’re champion of the world, he was close to being a two-weight champion — well, maybe not that close — but he had the opportunity. To know you’re going to get tested when you’re the champion in the UFC, you get tested more than if you’re a prelim fighter. That’s just the way it goes.”
“To risk it all. To know that if you’re taking EPO, there’s a two-year ban, tarnishes your legacy as Dan Hardy said on his podcast as a martial artist and as a human being. He’s never going to lose that.”
Like many fans, Bisping believes that once a fighter’s legacy is tarnished for failed PED tests, it’s nearly impossibl to restore your name.
Dillashaw, who was in contention for pound-for-pound king, threw everything that he had worked for away when he cheated, according to the UFC Hall of Famer:
“If he comes back after two years and continues to fight, the court of public opinion is not very forgiving and people are going to remember that,” Bisping said. “It’s a really, really bad look. Talk about a fall from grace. He was champion, he gets knocked out by [Henry] Cejudo, refuses to take that loss and now tests positive.”
“Listen, I don’t want to kick a man while he’s down too much cause obviously no one regrets this more than TJ Dillashaw but the fact of the matter is when you’re cheating in combat sports, I fail to have sympathy. I really do.”
For Bisping, it’s nothing personal. He likes Dillashaw as a man. But when it comes to martial arts competition, there is simply no room for cheaters. As Bisping says, ‘they’re not putting balls in a basket’:
“I like TJ, he’s a decent guy but I can’t have any sympathy,” Bisping said. “I suffered badly at the hands of performance enhancing drugs and many people have. I say it all the time, we’re not putting balls in a basket here. We’re trying to do damage to our opponents and there’s no honor in cheating like that. There really f**k*ng isn’t.”
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping had his career trajectory forever altered while facing fighters using performance enhancing drugs so it’s understandable why he’s not going to offer much sympathy when somebody gets busted as a cheater. The latest exam…
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping had his career trajectory forever altered while facing fighters using performance enhancing drugs so it’s understandable why he’s not going to offer much sympathy when somebody gets busted as a cheater. The latest example came earlier this week when T.J. Dillashaw was busted for using EPO — a notorious […]
On Tuesday, USADA announced that T.J. Dillashaw was suspended for two years for using EPO prior to his UFC Fight Night 143 bout against Henry Cejudo. Dillashaw, who had already been suspended one year by the New York State Athletic Commission, previous…
On Tuesday, USADA announced that T.J. Dillashaw was suspended for two years for using EPO prior to his UFC Fight Night 143 bout against Henry Cejudo. Dillashaw, who had already been suspended one year by the New York State Athletic Commission, previously relinquished the UFC bantamweight title upon news of his initial drug test failure. […]
TJ Dillashaw’s coaches offer their support to the former UFC bantamweight champion after the outcome of failing a drug test. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Dillashaw accepted a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). It’s no secret of the strong bond that Dillashaw and Duane Ludwig have. They built up a standout […]
TJ Dillashaw’s coaches offer their support to the former UFC bantamweight champion after the outcome of failing a drug test. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Dillashaw accepted a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
It’s no secret of the strong bond that Dillashaw and Duane Ludwig have. They built up a standout resume that led to multiple title reigns. However, that resume is in question in the wake of this news. Dillashaw was caught with EPO in his system and is ineligible to compete until January 2021.
Ludwig, who serves as his head coach, took to his official Instagram account to both scrutinized and supported his fighter.
On the flip side, Sam Calavitta, who is TJ’s strength and conditioning coach, issued a lengthy statement to the media. An excerpt from his statement noted that “Although not right, and inexcusable, TJ succumbed to the relentless pressure to win at any cost.”
In the statement, the narrative holds the stance that Dillashaw was forced to compromise himself. As for the reason, it’s due to the immense pressures and expectations that he was under.
“The Treigning Lab was built upon the foundation of integrity, hard work, and most importantly family. So, in light of recent events The Treigning Lab and it’s affiliates would, first, like to thank USADA for upholding the standard of sterling athletic practices and offering tests to ensure the safety and fairness of competitive sports. That being said, we would also like to thank all those who have come forward at this time to show their genuine concern for all of our athletes, especially TJ Dillashaw, a fallen soldier on the battlefield of public expectation and demand for perfection. Although, not right, and inexcusable, TJ succumbed to the relentless pressure to win at any cost for the purposes of appeasing his employers, pleasing his fan base, and providing for his family; a sentiment that we all can relate to.
He has now accepted the repercussions of his decisions; and as such, it is our decision as The Treigning Lab family, to stand beside him in his journey forward.”
Statement from TJ Dillashaw’s nutritionist/strength and conditioning coach Sam Calavitta. pic.twitter.com/2usauhm7ru
he’s still my Ninja! #StillMyNinja 
#KillaShaw 
, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Jesus Christ