Hormone Replacement Therapy At the Heart of Nate Marquardt’s Removal from UFC on Versus 4 Card

Hormone replacement therapy was at the heart of the reason behind Nate Marquardt being pulled from the UFC on Versus 4 main event on Sunday in Pittsburgh.

Marquardt revealed the news when appearing on the ‘MMA Hour’ on Tuesday.

Following the events from the weekend in which Marquardt was pulled from his scheduled fight with Rick Story and subsequently released from the UFC, he spoke candidly about the situation.

According to Marquardt, he was feeling moody and tired and after seeking a doctor’s medical advice, he was diagnosed with low testosterone and started therapy in August 2010.

Marquardt stated that in March 2011 when he fought Dan Miller in New Jersey that the athletic commission there allowed him to fight after filing papers for a medical exemption for the testosterone replacement therapy.

The therapy continued for Marquardt following the fight and his levels of testosterone spiked. Essentially, leading up to the weigh-ins on Saturday, he was still not cleared because his tests were still coming back too high.

Since the weekend, Marquardt stated that his testosterone levels have continued to drop and as of a test on Tuesday he believes he’s met all the requirements necessary to file the paperwork with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission to have his suspension lifted.

Executive Director Greg Sirb told MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday stated that they are still reviewing the information.

“We are still in the review process,” Sirb stated. “There is a lot of info to look thru and we want to make sure everything is picture perfect.”

The situation surrounding Marquardt escalated on Saturday when he still hadn’t met the requirements. UFC president Dana White, shortly after the weigh-in, released him via a video released via Twitter.

Marquardt’s manager, Lex McMahon, found out about the release from the message and then passed along the information to his fighter.

Marquardt said he ‘half expected’ to be released following the situation, but he was hopeful to get a second chance with the promotion at some point in the future.

Damon Martin is the lead staff writer and radio host for MMAWeekly.com.
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