Georges St-Pierre has long been a whistleblower on performance-enhancing drugs in MMA. It wasn’t until Anderson Silva, the greatest fighter in UFC history, tested positive for steroids that the MMA world finally started to pay attention.
Merely days after Silva defeated Nick Diaz in the main event at UFC 183, Nevada Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett announced the former middleweight champ had tested positive for two steroids, Drostanolone and Androsterone, per Shaun Al-Shatti of MMAFighting.com. The results, which were found on Feb. 3, came from an out-of-competition drug test conducted on Jan. 9.
Many, including St-Pierre, were baffled that Silva was still able to compete despite a failed drug test. When speaking with Canada’s CTV News, the former UFC welterweight champ insinuated that Silva had a “biological weapon” in his system:
The fight should be cancelled because it’s cheating, it’s a biological weapon that you have. If I fight someone with a knife and the promoter and the organization know I have a knife. I’m bringing a knife into the fight, they should not let me fight because I’m carrying a weapon.
… We’re not playing golf, we’re not racing, we’re fighting. Every time we fight we put our lives, our well-being in jeopardy.
St-Pierre relinquished his UFC title and stepped down from his welterweight throne in December 2013. During a media conference call, he announced that he would be leaving MMA indefinitely to patch things up in his personal life.
But future interviews would prove that was only half the reason.
St-Pierre, a longtime supporter of random drug testing, told La Presse, per MMAFighting.com, that he was disappointed by the lack of support he received from the UFC in his bid to enlist the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) to oversee his November 2013 title fight with Johny Hendricks. He even went as far as offering to pay $16,000 out of his own pocket for both tests.
UFC President Dana White defended the UFC’s current methods for testing fighters during an appearance on Fox Sports Google Hangout. He even went as far as claiming that the entire argument between St-Pierre and Hendricks regarding extra testing made both fighters “look stupid.”
Fast forward a year, and St-Pierre’s concerns are no longer a laughing matter. Silva’s entire legacy has come under question following the failed drug test. St-Pierre, who was often placed alongside Silva in the all-time great discussion, admitted to feeling sad for the Brazilian MMA legend.
I feel very sad for Anderson Silva. I don’t want to talk about one individual, I want to talk about the system. The system is a big problem in the sport of mixed martial arts ... It’s something that I believe the UFC and fighters should confront and deal with it. Because if you don't deal with it right now, it’s going to get worse and worse and worse.
St-Pierre is looking like Nostradamus these days.
Just three days ago, it was announced that World Series of Fighting star Jon Fitch, a former UFC title contender, failed a drug test prior to his Dec. 13 bout with Rousimar Palhares.
Fitch has long been an advocate against performance-enhancing drugs, but according to Steven Marrocco of MMAJunkie.com, multiple sources close to the situation are indicating Fitch tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
Like Silva, Fitch also faces a fine and lengthy suspension.
Jordy McElroy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon and FanRag Sports.
