USADA has provided MMA Fighting a response to Lyoto Machida’s comments about his 18 month suspension for using a banned substance.
Upon receiving news of his 18-month suspension, Machida left a message for his fans on his Facebok page.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, USADA spokesperson Ryan Madden asserted the organization’s message to UFC athlete’s and defended the comments made by Machida which included the rationale for USADA’s 18-month suspension which Machida believed to be harsh despite his acknowledgement of taking a banned substance.
From the information, it appeared as though Machida had appealed USADA’s initial decision. Madden noted that Machida was set to arbitrate his matter in June but decided to settle on the eve of his arbitration. He also points out that Machida never disputed the violation.
Payout Perspective:
Clearly, this is media relations for both Machida and USADA. Machida is disappointed with the 18-month suspension and thought he would have received less of a penalty since he was up front with his taking of the prohibited substance and his cooperation in the matter. The reduced sentences for the likes of Tim Means and Yoel Romero come to mind. Both received 6-month suspensions. Those cases hold different facts but the key driver for Machida was that he was straightforward about his use. But, therein lies the problem which USADA focused on and determined to be a factor in assessing the 18-month suspension. USADA maintains that it provides educational information on taking substances. Machida claims he was not properly educated. It’s a disconnect between fighter and organization. Whether a fighter knows about each substance on everything he takes from a GNC or health store will be scrutinized more after this ruling.
Accountability, don’t take something before checking to see if it’s clear.
What a fraud. He should have just kept quiet because he was blatantly cheating.
Romero should also have been suspended for a lengthy period of time as he is obviously a ped abuser as well.
There’s obviously a disconnect between fighters and Ufc/usada.
I feel like the whole fighter should be accountable is bullshit. They don’t have enough time to be researching vitamins from gnc.
I hope Ari or even the potential fighters union get rid of usada.
Etops that’s like saying just Because you didn’t know the exact law it is okay to rob a bank lol.
Etops, there is no reason any of these guys should be taking these complex supplements. They do it to cheat. Machida had been cheating for a long time. I’m glad he was finally nabbed.
Fighters should be getting their nutrients from food, period. Even Mike Dolce has pointed this out.
If you believe that, just get rid of weight cutting and make guys fight at their natural weight. Most people take supplements to lose weight and keep the muscle and strength.
Most guys take supplements because they involve peds. That’s the truth.
Machida said he was taking it for weight cutting. Any type of supplement is supposed to help you but does it give you an advantage is the main question for each drug.
But if you are against supplements, you should be against weight cutting which is just as dangerous to me. That’s why I don’t get mad at guys for missing weight, your body is telling you this is unhealthy.