Fighters go to extraordinary lengths for minimal gains, which is often the difference in combat sports. They battle through injury, illness, and setbacks to make the walk under the lights. Whether it’s boxing, MMA, or otherwise, high-level fighters are among the hardest-working athletes in the world.
The dark side of this type of mindset is that certain individuals will do anything to win, even if this means bending the rules. Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been an unfortunate byproduct of the fight game for a long time. When fighters get caught doping, they come up with some extraordinary excuses, many of which are very hard to believe.
10
Conor Benn Blamed Eggs As A Potential Cause Of His Failed Test
Benn Failed Two Tests In 2022
- Son of legendary British boxer, Nigel Benn, Conor came under fire in 2022 after two failed tests.
- He tested positive for clomiphene, a banned fertility drug that can increase testosterone levels.
- Benn denied knowingly taking any drugs and came up with a myriad of theories.
Initially, Benn thought contaminated food was the reason, but didn’t specify what food he thought caused the failed test. Next, he theorized that he may have consumed a tainted supplement, but this excuse was difficult to substantiate. Finally, the most entertaining excuse of all was that he had been consuming too many eggs, which may have contained trace amounts of banned substances.
His excuses were widely ridiculed. Somehow, the UK Anti-Doping Agency and the British Boxing Board of Control dropped the charges against him so he didn’t service a ban.
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9
Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs Claimed He Failed A Test Due To Asthma Medication
Fans Speculated He Used Asthma As An Excuse To Dope
- In 2017, Shannon Briggs was flagged for having elevated levels of testosterone.
- This led to the cancelation of his heavyweight bout with Fres Oquendo.
- He blamed asthma medication that was necessary for his health and well-being.
Fighters can obtain exemptions for certain medications that treat chronic illnesses, like asthma. However, Briggs never applied for such an exemption. The World Boxing Association (WBA) wasn’t swayed by his defense and he was handed a six-month suspension.
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8
Frank Mir Suggested Kangaroo Meat Caused Him To Fail A Test
The Former UFC Champion Spent Time Training In Australia
- In 2016, Frank Mir fought Mark Hunt in Brisbane, Australia, where he lost via first-round KO.
- He spent part of his camp training in Australia to ensure he was acclimatized.
- After the fight, Mir tested positive for turinabol, an anabolic steroid.
Mir denied knowingly taking the substance and claimed he consumed kangaroo meat during camp, which may have been contaminated. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) refuted this claim since turinabol is a synthetic steroid and is highly unlikely to have been consumed by kangaroos. Mir was subsequently suspended for two years.
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7
Luis Ortiz Said His Blood Pressure Medication Caused Him To Fail A Test
His Team Came Up With A Lot Of Excuses In The Aftermath
- Cuban heavyweight, Luis Ortiz, tested positive for chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide in 2017.
- His team immediately blamed his blood pressure medication, prescribed by a doctor.
- While they provided the necessary medical documents after the positive test, Ortiz had failed to the WBA and VADA, which is a requirement.
The main issue with Ortiz’s excuse was that these diuretics are commonly used as masking agents for other PEDs. His failure to declare the medications was deemed suspicious. Ortiz was withdrawn from his world title fight with then-champion, Deontay Wilder, and was handed a suspension.
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6
Wanderlei Silva Ran From Drug Testers
He Was Surprised At His Gym For An Out Of Competition Test
- Silva was slated to fight Chael Sonnen at UFC 175 in 2014.
- Anti-doping agents went to his training facility for blood and urine samples.
- Silva initially agreed to take the tests but asked if he could talk to his manager first.
According to the agent, Silva walked toward the office but then disappeared around a corner. When he followed him around the corner, the agent was met by an emergency exit and Silva was nowhere to be seen. He remained unreachable for several days.
Evading testers was viewed as a serious breach of the rules by the Nevada State Athletic Association, who slapped Silva with a lifetime ban. However, this was overturned the following year.
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5
Hanna Gabriels Throws Her Dog Under The Bus
She Came Up With One Of The Most Unique Excuses For Failing A Test
- Hanna Gabriels is a former world champion, hailing from Costa Rica.
- She was scheduled to fight Claressa Shields in 2023 in a rematch after Shields defeated Gabriels in 2018.
- Ahead of the fight, Gabriels tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid often used for muscle growth and to help with recovery.
The fight was canceled immediately. Gabriels claimed that the positive test came from a skin medication she was giving to her dog. Her excuse was that she accidentally made contact with the topical cream. This didn’t sit well with the commission who hit her with a ban.
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4
Alistair Overeem Refused To Take Responsibility For His Failed Test
He Placed All The Blame On His Doctor
- In addition to being a world-class MMA and kickboxing fighter, Alistair was known for his physique.
- Fight fans playfully referred to him as “Ubereem” and speculated about possible PED use.
- In 2012, Overeem was set to take on Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146.
The month prior to the event, Overeem, who recently beat Brock Lesnar, tested for elevated testosterone levels. His levels recorded a 14:1 ratio, more than twice the acceptable limit of 6:1. In his defense, Overeem argued that his doctor gave him an anti-inflammatory shot to help him recover from an injury. He placed the entire blame on the doctor, claiming he didn’t tell him it contained testosterone.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission didn’t accept his excuse. As a result, he was pulled from the fight and banned for nine months.
3
Jon Jones’ Bedroom Antics Caused His Failed Test
The Controversial Champion Is Rarely Out Of The Headlines
- After a litany of outside-the-cage issues, Jon Jones faced Ovince Saint-Preux for the interim light heavyweight title in 2016.
- He won the fight via unanimous decision.
- Shortly after, he tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole, two banned substances often used as estrogen blockers.
Jones was stripped of his interim title and faced a one-year ban. He infamously blamed over-the-counter sexual enhancement pills, which was widely publicized and mocked. However, further investigations showed that there was possible cross-contamination with one of the supplements he had been taking.
However, in his return bout against Daniel Cormier, he tested positive for turinabol, an anabolic steroid. He faced a potential four-year ban, but it was reduced to 15 months because of Jones’ cooperation with the investigation. His failed drug tests have cast a shadow over an incredible career.
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2
Canelo Alvarez Made Contaminated Meat Excuse
He Tested Positive For Clenbuterol, Used To Aid Endurance And Help With Weight Cutting
- While preparing for his rematch with Gennady Golovkin, Canelo tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance.
- He claimed that this was potentially due to contaminated Mexican meat.
- Canelo’s team referenced other examples of Mexican fighters popping for clenbuterol over the years.
While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledged that meat contamination is an issue in Mexico, fans remained skeptical and maintained that Canelo should know better. Social media users joked that Canelo was blaming tacos for the positive test. The fight was canceled and Alvarez received a six-month suspension.
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1
Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller Failed Three Doping Tests In 2019
He Tested Positive For A Strong Cocktail Of PEDs
- “Big Baby” is a controversial figure in the world of boxing.
- In 2019, he tested positive for GW501516, EPO, and human growth hormone (HGH), three extremely potent PEDs.
- The positive tests shocked fans and boxing pundits.
GW501516, in particular, caused significant clamor as it was never approved for medical use due to its health risks. Miller initially blamed contaminated supplements before backtracking and making multiple excuses. He even claimed that the tests were not accurate. He lost a lucrative fight with Anthony Joshua and was suspended for two years.
