Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission Bans TRT Exemptions; Dan Henderson Gets Final Exemption

The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) on Friday confirmed that it would mirror the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to ban therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy.

Nevada’s decision to ban exemptions for TRT took effect immediately, but CABMMA will allow one final combatant, Dan Henderson, to compete with an exemption.

Nevada has no licensed fighters in its state that have a current therapeutic use exemption and no applications in process. CABMMA, however, allowed Henderson’s exemption because he had already applied for licensure in Brazil for his upcoming fight against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC Fight Night 38 on March 23. He will be the final fighter allowed an exemption now that Brazil has decided to ban them.

CABMMA’s medical director, Dr. Marcio Tannure, told Brazil’s SporTV on Friday of the commission’s decision, noting that it, like most athletic commissions, closely follows the regulatory practices of Nevada.

Nevada’s decision had an immediate ripple effect in its own state when, hours after a vote to enact the change, the UFC announced that Vitor Belfort was out of his scheduled challenge of UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in Las Vegas on May 24 due to the decision.

Several other commissions are now revisiting the issue in their jurisdictions with more changes surely to follow.

(Promotional photo courtesy of UFC.com)