*If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you may have heard that Jimmy Wallhead was busted for using SARMs. Many athletes were shocked and appalled at his willingness to break the rules, but many, however, were probably thankful it wasn’t them that was busted.
In recent years, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) has noted a large increase in the number of athletes using SARMs for performance enhancement. One of the most popular, known as Ostarine, has been used by athletes and bodybuilders since the 1990s to gain an edge in competition.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the UFC’s first controversy. As we previously reported, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley quickly commented on a racist referee’s exposal:
“The bottom line for Woodley regarding what happened to Andrew Johnson is that Woodley is just plain tired racists … or folks with racist behavior being allowed to have positions of authority. And, yes, that includes police officers. Woodley also thinks the way the high school wrestling community handles hair maintenance … specifically with black athletes … is ridiculous. He also giving big ups to young Johnson for blocking out the B.S. and winning his match.”
While using performance-enhancing drugs is certainly more common in the UFC than racism, many are still concerned with the long-term effects of SARMs on athletic performance.
In fact, according to the UFC’s Anti-Doping Program, over 100 athletes tested positive for Ostarine usage in just the years from 2015-2017 alone:
“In recent years, WADA has reported an increasing number of positive tests involving SARMs even though only illegal products contain Ostarine and it’s not currently available as a prescription medication in any country… with WADA reporting more than 100 Ostarine positives between 2015 and 2017.”
In fact, it’s gotten so bad that the USADA even issued a statement about Ostarine:
“To take part in elite competitions, many athletes must comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List, a strict global standard that prohibits the use of certain substances and methods because of their potential to enhance performance and cause negative health effects. The WADA Prohibited List is an internationally recognized standard, with more than 660 signatories, that helps ensure that athletes can compete on a level playing field around the world.”
“Among its various Prohibited List resources for athletes and their support personnel, USADA publishes substance profiles to highlight vital information about high-risk substances, including Ostarine.”
…and while many athletes will likely still resort to SARMs such as Ostarine, Testolone, and Ligandrol to enhance their physical performance, this certainly marks a new era in the UFC’s quest to fight it.
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