Nate Marquardt Cut by UFC

[Troy]

UFC On Versus 4 held an unexpected appearance from UFC President Dana White during it’s live broadcast where White discussed the situation surrounding Nate Marquardt. Though White never actually explained what it was that caused Marquardt to fail his medicals and be forced out of the evenings main event, he didn’t hold back when voicing his frustrations with the middleweight title contender:

“I think it’s pretty clear to the fans and everyone else that I’m disgusted with Nate Marquardt. He’s been cut by the UFC and he won’t fight for the UFC again. Bottom line: What Nate Marquardt did is bad enough to be cut by the UFC…. He has no business fighting in the UFC…. This is one of those situations where, because of the laws in Pennsylvania, Nate Marquardt is going to have to man up and tell the world why he didn’t pass. And when he does, I think everyone will understand why he was cut from the UFC.â€

To drive home the seriousness of Marquardt’s firing, White explained that he understands mistakes get made but you don’t cross the boss after being given a second chance in the past:

“I give a lot of guys chances, and a lot of guys make mistakes. Nate Marquardt is one of those guys. So for me to come out and say that Nate Marquardt isn’t going to fight in the UFC anymore, it’s got to be pretty serious.â€​

Couldn't believe this when I read it. Marquardt must have done something really bad and stupid to be banned from the UFC for life by White. Could it be a substance issue?
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[Slim]

Well I've been searching all over the place for news on what it could be and they couldn't disclose that bit of information. Apparently it's been known for a few weeks and nothing was really done about it on both his part and everybody else. And there is to be some sort of statement Tuesday by Nate and hopefully all the speculation will come to a halt and he'll just say what it is.

 

[Deezy]

With something like this, it's assumption city, Nate is supposedly going to open up about this on Tuesday.

All I know was he wasn't medically cleared to fight, there was no PEDs or diet supplements and he made weight. It has to be something medical, probably hepatitis or something like taht.

 

[Dod Draper]

It'll probably be the princible which has gotten him fired. Apparently he knew he had a problem for months, and if he didn't tell UFC... well, you can see the problem emerging.

 

[Deezy]

Well, we have our answer: testosterone replacement therapy. The same treatment that caused Chael Sonnen to test positive for his UFC 117 title fight with Anderson Silva. The treatment approved for both Todd Duffee and Dan Henderson. The treatment rumored to be used by a certain five-time UFC champion.

Nate Marquardt appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani and spoke his piece. He was forthcoming -- outside of citing PSAC chief's Greg Sirb's suggestion that he not discuss his testosterone numbers, Marquardt answered every question sked of him. He was lucid. He expressed remorse. He cried, at times. He apologized to everyone involved.

Marquardt's story is this. He went to his doctor after feeling sluggish and irritable and having suffered memory loss for a period of time. Blood tests came back showing low testosterone. After additoinal screening, including more blood work and a brain scan, Marquardt's doctor recommended testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). He was undergoing treatment for both his fight with Rousimar Palhares in Austin, Texas, and Yushin Okami in Oberhausen, Germany. (The UFC oversaw drug testing and medicals overseas.)

Nate then requested a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) for his fight against Dan Miller in New Jersey. The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board indicated that while his doctor's request was incomplete and the treatment did not comply to USADA standards, they would authorize the treatment, so long as he agreed to go off treatment for eight weeks and take three blood tests after the fight.

Marquardt agreed to the request, and the state's specialist agreed with the TRT treatment. Now only three weeks from his fight with Rick Story in Pennsylvania, Marquardt's personal doctor suggested more aggressive treatment -- instead of taking oral medication which promoted the pituitary gland to spur testosterone production in the testicles, the doctor would inject the testosterone straight.

The injections pushed Marquardt's level out of the range accepted by the PSAC. Nate continued to take blood tests throughout the week leading up to the fight, but was still over, though close, before the weigh-ins. The Pennsylvania refused to allow him to fight, the UFC inserted Charlie Brenneman against Rick Story, and Dana White fired Marquardt through Twitter.

Marquardt claims to have taken another blood test on the day of the fight that would have put him well within the accepted limits.

OK so where to begin, testosterone replacement therapy isn't against any ruling if you have a prescription for it. I'm guessing the problem is that Marquardt didn't get the paperwork done his last two fights and didn't get it done this fight. Which just gives Zuffa nothing but headaches and were now forced to cancel a mainevent because of this.

It's not like he openly cheated, tons of fighters get this treatment. Overtraining does that to your body. It's the bodies way of saying "slow down". But being an elite athlete, none can affordt to stop training in this "what have you done for me lately" sport.

I think PEDs have a place in sports, and for anyone to think every athlete is natural. Well enjoy that dreamworld.

 

[Troy]

His mistake was not being open about it right away. If he didn't tell UFC that he was using this therapy for his two previous fights then he is in the wrong and should have notified them right away. Overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

 

[Dademo]

Wait.. so maybe I'm not getting this... but isn't this like the same thing with Chael Sonnen?

 

[Deezy]

Same thing, Hendo too. Lots of fighters.

The only people speaking out about it are just paranoid at getting caught.

Elevated testosterone is not cheating btw.