Association for Ringside Physicians supports elimination of TRT in MMA

The Association for Ringside Physicians (ARP) has taken a stance on the appropriateness of therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy (TUE for TRT) in combat sports, and it’s not favorable.

Today’s announcement:

“The incidence of hypogonadism requiring the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in professional athletes is extraordinarily rare. Accordingly, the use of an anabolic steroid such as testosterone in a professional boxer or mixed martial artist is rarely justified. Steroid use of any type, including unmerited testosterone, significantly increases the safety and health risk to combat sports athletes and their opponents. TRT in a combat sports athlete may also create an unfair advantage contradictory to the integrity of sport. Consequently, the Association of Ringside Physicians supports the general elimination of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy.” – Association of Ringside Physicians

As physicians, we weigh the “risk-reward” relationship throughout our decision-making process. Do the potential benefits significantly outweigh the likely risks? It certainly is not an exact science, nor are the potential ramifications of our opinions taken lightly.

With the seriousness of our decisions potentially impacting a wide number of people, physicians are historically slow to make a change until the preponderance of information makes failing to act egregious.

The position statement of the ARP in support of closing the TRT loophole in combat sports now provides the various state athletic regulatory bodies the impetus to enact meaningful measures to enhance the health and safety of combat athletes.

It has become abundantly clear that the risks to the many participating in combat sports of continuing to allow TUEs for TRT significantly outweigh any potential benefits to the very few who may appropriately demonstrate a legitimate need (not desire).

Now it is up to the state athletic regulatory bodies to aggressively uphold their mission, primary responsibility and obligation to protect and enhance the safety of all athletes under their jurisdiction; delaying or failing to do so would be egregious and a dereliction of their duty.

Dr. Johnny Benjamin is MMAjunkie.com’s medical columnist and consultant and a noted combat-sports specialist. He is also a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions’ MMA Medical Subcommittee. Dr. Benjamin writes an “Ask the Doc” column approximately every two weeks for MMAjunkie.com. To submit a question for a future column, email him at askthedoc [AT] mmajunkie.com, or share your questions and thoughts in the comments section below. You can find Dr. Benjamin online at www.drjohnnybenjamin.com, and you can read his other sports-related articles at blog.drjohnnybenjamin.com.