The California State Athletic Commission Bans TRT

The California State Athletic commission has today, by way of official announcement, issued a complete and total ban on testosterone replacement therapy – TRT.

“CSAC” cited last week’s ruling by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to do likewise, and stipulated that the commission supports “anti-doping efforts.”

Further, the California commission stated that it’s their intent to adopt new standards that are in keeping with those of the “World Anti-Doping Agency.”

“CSAC” Executive Officer Andy Foster’s statement reads as follows:

The California State Athletic Commission fully supports the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to eliminate Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) in boxing and mixed martial arts. California is a strong supporter of anti-doping efforts. As part of California’s anti-doping efforts, the Commission recently began the rulemaking process to require meeting World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards as the only way to obtain a TUE for TRT. This standard is so high that it is an effective ban except under the most extreme circumstances. Until the rulemaking process is complete and the regulations are fully adopted, the Commission has a total ban on TRT. California remains committed to protecting the health and safety of athletes and having strict anti-doping standards is one of the ways this is accomplished.

So, there fans have it. Commissions are finally coming down hard on TRT and appear to be looking to stamp out the problem.

However, can they do it?

As fans know, simply banning a substance doesn’t mean that the desire or use of that substance has abated or gone away. Between fights, and out of reach of the commissions, fighters are –likely as not – going to be free to do as they please. As such, the ban is really only as good as the testing that supports it. Concordantly, if the commissions don’t have the authority to randomly test fighters between fights and regardless of their geographic locations, and a system in place to accomplish the task, inclusive of the funding required to accomplish the task, then the net result of the ban on TRT might not amount to much.