Michael Bisping Responds To Vitor Belfort’s TRT Prescription

Michael Bisping and Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7

"The Count" questions Belfort's past PED usage

With UFC officials announcing that Vitor Belfort legally received testosterone replacement therapy prior to his UFC on FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping, many wondered how "The Count" would react, who in the past has made no secrets on his feelings about the controversial treatment.

Bisping, who's hopes of as title shot were once again upended, commented on "The Phenom" and TRT on his official website:

Here’s what I’ve got to say:

As I said right after the fight, I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it. It sucks. I don't like it, but that was the result. I lost. Bottom line.

Over the past couple years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear. I don’t feel that I need to go into depth about it again right now. All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally. A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don't understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone.

All that being said, I am not here to make excuses or cry over spilled milk. I fight in the best organization in the world, The UFC, and am very excited to work and earn a title fight, the right way. That process starts by whooping Alan Belcher's ass at UFC 159 on Saturday, April 27th, live on PPV.

As we have seen in the past, the Brit can be quite brash at times, however in this latest statement, it's interesting to notice how calm and collected he remains to not make any excuses. He also makes a point that many will surely touch on in the coming weeks of this latest development in the TRT controversy.

As he alluded to in his statment, Belfort was previously caught and suspended earlier in his career when he tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone, a steroid, at Pride 32. The fact that he would be allowed to legally receive a prescribed performance enhancing drug, after the commission was already privy to past usage is perplexing.

Looking back at Bisping's past number one contender bouts, you can't help but feel for the man. He is no doubt the highest profile UFC fighter to have never fought for a title, losing his shot to men who are all known TRT users in Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Belfort.

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