Joe Rogan Sounds Off On TJ Dillashaw’s ‘Tainted Legacy’
The entire MMA world was met with a bit of shock and disbelief when news came that TJ Dillashaw had been suspended for two years by USADA this week. It’s time Joe Rogan sounds off on the disappointing circumstances.
Dillashaw tested positive for EPO in a drug test stemming from his TKO loss to Henry Cejudo this January. He quickly relinquished the UFC bantamweight title when it was announced he had failed said test. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) gave him a one-year suspension as a result.
But few expected Dillashaw to be given a two-year ban by USADA for his first offense. EPO is only injected or ingested, making his violation towards the top of voluntary doping infractions.
Rogan’s Stance
Rogan, long a supporter of Dillashaw, called the news a “bummer” during his JRE MMA Show podcast (via MMA Junkie) this week. However, he also acknowledged that a positive test for EPO simply taints the onetime great’s legacy as a fighter:
“To me, it’s a shame because I’m a T.J. fan. I think he’s a phenomenal fighter and I’m a big fan of watching him perform. But it just taints his legacy. It just does. There’s no way around it. When you get caught cheating – this stuff, there’s no way it’s not cheating. This is just cheating. This isn’t
A Long Time Off
Dillashaw will be eligible to return to action in January 2021. With a stacked bantamweight division set to move forward when Cejudo meets Marlon Moraes at UFC 238, it’s hard to envision how he fits into the picture when he does return at 35 years old.
‘The Viper’ has remained quiet on the proceedings since his ban was announced. Many have not, however. Dillashaw’s coaches did offer words of support for their fighter while calling the usage ‘inexcusable.’ His longtime rival Cody Garbrandt went off on the failure in a highly-publicized Twitter rant. Conor McGregor was quick to take “No Love’s’ side in that battle.
Benefits Of EPO?
Overall, the damage done to Dillashaw’s reputation has been more than significant. EPO was also found in a re-tested sample of his from December, suggesting he used it during his preparation to fight Cejudo in a losing effort.
Rogan claimed using EPO gave him more time to train and recover. He was so interested in its potential effects, he said, that he even considered trying it himself:
“T.J.’s an amazing fighter, but (expletive),” Rogan said. “To test positive for EPO in the Henry Cejudo fight … You’ve got to think, if you’re on EPO – how much does that allow you to train extra time? How much does it allow you to recover? What is the quantifiable benefit? It must be pretty significant. … I almost want to try it.”
