California commission announces 'total ban' of testosterone-replacement therapy
The California State Athletic Commission is tightening its rules when it comes to therapeutic-use exemptions for testosterone-replacement therapy, and in the interim, has announced a “total ban†on TRT.
Commission officials today announced the move, which comes one week after the influential Nevada State Athletic Commission issued a ban and set the dominoes in motion for other regulatory bodies to follow suit.
According to today’s statement, the commission will soon require World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards to receive a TRT exemption. In turn, the commission believes such guidelines will create an “effective ban†on the controversial steroid-hormone treatment.
Until those rules are enacted, though, no TUEs will be granted in the state of California.
California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer Andy Foster’s statement:
The California State Athletic Commission fully supports the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to eliminate Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) in boxing and mixed martial arts. California is a strong supporter of anti-doping efforts. As part of California’s anti-doping efforts, the Commission recently began the rulemaking process to require meeting World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards as the only way to obtain a TUE for TRT. This standard is so high that it is an effective ban except under the most extreme circumstances. Until the rulemaking process is complete and the regulations are fully adopted, the Commission has a total ban on TRT. California remains committed to protecting the health and safety of athletes and having strict anti-doping standards is one of the ways this is accomplished.
To date the UFC, MMA’s biggest promotion, has held 18 events in the state of California, which annually hosts more events than nearly every U.S. state. The UFC’s most recent show came in December with UFC on FOX 9.
