Two separate anti-doping tests conducted by state athletic commissions both returned negative for performance enhancing drugs. This is good news for the MMA since there will no more steroid issues that will be hurting the sport this year. Ending the year with clean fighters is also an indication that mixed martial arts is now becoming a clean sport. Though, many still doubt the effectiveness of the current steroid testing program in this field of sports because promotion companies puts the responsibility on state athletic commissions.

But the recent events could be a proof that fighters are now more focused on the skills rather than the strength that these steroids provides. TUF 14 Finale was held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas in December 3 while UFC 139 was held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California last November 19. The fighters in both events were tested for steroids and recreational drugs.

The Ultimate Fighting Finale Ends with Clean Record

TUF 14 Finale’s main event was between coaches Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller. Bisping won the fight via TKO in Round 3. John Dodson was crowned the bantamweight champion, also by TKO, while Diego Brandao got the featherweight championship belt. He defeated Dennis Bermudez via submission.

Fighters in the under card event also returned negative for any banned substances according to Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Keith Kizer. Other fighters who were tested include Dennis Bermudez, T.J. Dillashaw, Johnny Bedford, Tony Ferguson, Marcus Brimage, Dustin Pague, Stephen Bass, John Albert, Roland Delorme, Steven Siler, Josh Ferguson, Josh Clopton, Bryan Caraway and Dustin Neace.

Michael Bisping has been promoting clean fights by shunning the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs so it is expected that he will be cleared of steroids.

Under the NSAC rules, main card fighters and winners are subjected to steroids tests. Fighters who had previous doping violations are also required to undergo mandatory testing while other fighters are subjected to random steroid testing.

No Failed Steroid Test in UFC 139

The MMAJunkie also reported that the California State Athletic Commission or CSAC disclosed that there was no fighter in the UFC 139 who failed in the steroids and drugs abuse tests. All fighters were clean of performance enhancing drugs. Dan Henderson got the UFC 139 title by defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Other MMA fighters who were also tested by the CSAC were Wanderlei Silva, Gleison Tibau, Shamar Bailey, Danny Castillo, Cung Le, Urijah Faber, Brian Bowles, Rafael dos Anjos, Ryan Bader and Jason Brilz.

Meanwhile, UFC President Dana White believes Chael Sonnen knows how to promote a fight. Sonnen, who’s been into legal trouble this year and served a suspension for taking testosterone, is again fearless in making statements challenging Anderson Silva. He contends that Silva is afraid to fight him. “I don’t believe Anderson’s hurt. I think he’s ducking me,” Sonnen said in an interview. Sonnen was suspended for taking steroids but he argued that he was under testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and not doping.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) suspended a UBC Thunderbirds rugby player after the CCES caught him using performance enhancing drugs. According to the IRB, Jeff McKinnon of the UBC Thunderbirds received a two year ban for using steroids. McKinnon tested positive for testosterone and bolderone when his sample was taken during the Canadian Rugby Championships in August.

The suspension already started last November and will end in November 2013. The test was conducted by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) who oversees and administers drug testing on all colleges and universities in Canada. The rugby player was already banned by the CCES in any sports competition. The IRB also adopted the sanction.

No Appeal on Suspension

Based on the report of Andrew Bates of Ubyssy, McKinnon is a Kinesiology student in the UBC but may graduate even before the suspension expires. It was learned that McKinnon did not appealed his suspension. That means, the student admitted the charges against him. People close to him were shocked when the news came out.

According to Thunderbirds coach Spence McTavish, he was surprised that McKinnon was involved in the use of performance enhancing drugs and the case was also the first in the UBC. The coach said that they do not condone the use of steroids in the team. “I’m pretty sure he’d be the only guy that I know who uses some drugs to enhance,” said the coach.

Rugby Player Made the Wrong Decision

Coach McTavish also added that McKinnon suffered a shoulder injury last year which is not healing fast. It could be the reason why McKinnon resorted to steroids to help him recover faster from his injury. But for the coach, it was a great mistake for the young rugby player. The coach said that McKinnon has the potential to play in the national level. “Some players have goals. They want to achieve that goal, and they’ll go to any means to get to it. I know Jeff, he’s a wonderful young man; he’s bright, he’s articulate, he’s just a super-nice kid. He made a mistake,” said McTavish.

UBC’s rugby team captain Alex Kam declined to give further comment on the case of McKinnon because he doesn’t have enough knowledge on the details of the steroid suspension. Kam reiterated that doping in sports is wrong and steroids has no part in the game.

Coach McTavish is optimistic that the team will not be affected by the issue.

Steroid Bolderone Easily Detected

The CCES intensified their anti-steroid campaign after several players of the University of Waterloo football team tested positive for steroids in 2010. The UBC rugby player took the risk by taking bolderone. Based on online sources, bolderone can be detected in the system even after a year of taking it.

It is an anabolic steroid, usually cycled with other steroids, that helps increase lean muscle mass, increase appetite, lose fat and increase stamina. Indeed, this type of steroid is used for enhancing performance in sports.

Commissioner Bud Selig already said that the steroid era is over as evidenced by the number of players tested positive for banned performance enhancing drugs. While it is true that the incidence of positive tests declined through the years, there are still some players who were caught using PED’s. This year Manny Ramirez is the only player who suffered the strict rules of the league because of his involvement in steroids use.

However, just recently, the ESPN reported that there is another baseball player who failed a steroid test. It’s the National Baseball’s MVP Player for the 2011, Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers. According to the report, Braun submitted a urine sample during the playoffs but it turned out positive for testosterone. He was informed of the positive steroid test in October but the baseball’s MVP appealed the results.

Elevated Levels of Synthetic Testosterone

Braun’s sample showed an elevated level of testosterone and it was a synthetic one. It means the testosterone was not produced naturally in the body, an indication that he is taking something to enhance his performance. ESPN’s source also revealed that Braun immediately requested for a confirmatory test and the result was negative. Braun is now contesting the previous result and believes he will be exonerated in the case.

USA Today also quoted a press release issued by Braun’s camp. “There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan’s complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated.”

Although there was no confirmation from the league or from the Milwaukee Brewers about the alleged positive test, the statement from Braun’s agency validates the news report from ESPN. Braun insists that he is not doping and questioned the validity of the test. However, it must be noted that the league never gives-in to any appeal. Players who are caught using performance enhancing drugs will surely get the 50-game suspension.

Possible Suspension before 2012 Season Starts

If Ryan Braun is unsuccessful in his appeal, sports analysts say that the 50-game suspension might be handed down before the start of the 2012 season. On the other hand, if he wins the case he will have difficulty in bringing back his reputation. In previous interviews, Braun said that he never took steroids and don’t need steroids to hit more home runs. But a positive test or even a false positive will change everything. This incident will hound him up to the time that he will become eligible in the Hall of Fame.

The Milwaukee Brewer slugger has an average of 36 home runs in his first 5 major league seasons. This year, he had .332 batting average, 33 home runs and 111 RBI. His contract with the Milwaukee Brewers was extended to another 5 year contract.

Kenyan Olympic track and field athlete Asbel Kiprop has finally received the gold for the 1500 m in the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Kiprop was just a runner up to Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain in 1500m event but was later declared as the winner since his rival was confirmed failing the doping test after the race.

Ramzi was disqualified since his sample revealed traces of CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), which is a banned blood-boosting substance that is almost the same with erythropoietin (EPO). The title was taken away from him and he was also suspended for two years.

Doping Still a Problem in Olympics

Doping in the Olympics has been causing a lot of controversies in the past decades. Taking in drugs to aid performance so as to give competitors an unfair advantage over others is highly discouraged by the International Olympic Committee. However, there are still a lot of Olympians who are taking the chances just to win for their country.

At the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Kiprop just finished fourth for the in the 1500 m and also participated in the 800 m but was eliminated in the semifinals. It was among the most disappointing moments in his run. Nonetheless, though it was a long wait, it is still worth it that Kiprop surely wanted to clear the trace of his trails by continuously winning clean games today by making sure that he is not taking in steroids.

Along with the 1500 metres gold medal for Beijing 2008, Kiprop also added the IAAF World Championships 1500m title to his name. He won it in Daegu this summer.

Olympian Hoping for a Second Gold in the London Olympics

Asbel Kiprop shared the victory with his wife, Sammary Cherotich, who was the 2007 World Youth 1500m champion. “I never thought it would be a big ceremony whereby the national anthem would be sang since I would have been in a track suit,” said the Kenyan sprinter in an interview. “I’m so excited having stood today in a suit, something that is not likely to happen to many people.” He added.

Kip Keino, who is the 1968 Olympic 1500m champion and the man considered as the godfather of Kenyan running, was invited to give the award to Kiprop. The new gold medalist was very thankful, not just for receiving the medal but having the opportunity to be awarded by a person who he and the Olympics have been looking up to. Keino also inspires him to go for the gold in London Olympics 2012.

Ramzi might have tasted the fame for a short period but the fact that he did not carry on with a fair game, the fame becomes shame. Kiprop, on the other hand, reaps what he has sown – hardwork and clean games. He should have remained defeated long ago because of the series of failure but now, he can prove to the world that he can top any game without taking in steroids or any medical aid just to win the games.

According to insidethegames.biz, another athlete was also awarded with the bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games last year. Boxer Nick Olouch received the bronze medal after Sri Lankan Manju Wanniarachchi forfeited his title after he was caught positive for anabolic steroids.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will again decide who will be the baseball stars that will enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) for 2012. The official list will be announced on January 9 but the names of baseball players that will be included in the ballot are already out. Two of the prominent major league players that are on the list are Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. Both players do have impressive careers in the major league but it was marred by the use of performance enhancing drugs particularly anabolic steroids.

6th Year on the Ballot, Still Surviving

Mark McGwire is already on his 6th year in the ballot while Palmeiro is now on his second year. McGwire, who is now part of the coaching staff of the St. Louis Cardinals, is working great in his new career. Though he was a major hit in the news when he admitted about steroids use in 2010, sports writers are not that excited anymore to cover his sports career. Many were disappointed that McGwire did not make enough effort to redeem his reputation. This was evidenced by his poor rankings in the last six years in the HOF ballot. His percentage is just around 20% which is just enough to retain his name in the ballot but not enough to enter into the Hall Of Fame.

McGwire is a true Hall of Famer but he was just unlucky that steroids issue is still a major factor for most voters. The slugger has in his career 12-time All-Star and a Gold Glover Award in 1990. He was voted as the top 10 MVP five times. McGwire ranked 8th in all-time slugging percentage and 10th in home runs. He also brought the A’s to the 1989 World Series. He has a .263 batting average.

His manager, Tony La Russa, is still optimistic that McGwire will get the honor soon.

Palmeiro Hoping for a Better Ranking

Rafael Palmeiro is another Hall of Fame candidate who could enter the Hall this year. He received a fair ranking in the last year’s ballot. If the voters will change their minds, Palmeiro may break the stigma attached to players involved in steroids. Palmeiro was one of the players who told Congressional investigators that he never used anabolic steroids. But after a few months, he failed a steroid test.

The Cuban born slugger has 569 home runs, .555 slugging average and 3,020 hits to boast of. However, these impressive stats may not be enough to put him on the Hall of Fame because of his steroid use. On the other hand, Palmeiro still hopes that he will get better ranking this time.

The 2012 Hall of Fame Candidates:
Jeff Bagwell
Juan Gonzalez
Barry Larkin
Edgar Martinez
Don Mattingly
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Dale Murphy
Rafael Palmeiro
Tim Raines
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
Larry Walker
Bernie Williams

Other baseball players up for consideration by the BBWAA as compiled by the MLB.com

Jeromy Burnitz
Vinny Castilla
Brian Jordan
Javy Lopez
Bill Mueller
Terry Mulholland
Phil Nevin
Brad Radke
Tim Salmon
Ruben Sierra
Tony Womack
Eric Young

London was selected as the host city for the Olympics next year- 2012. As of today, many areas in London are being prepared and some of them are already set for the Summer Olympics in 2012. To mention some of the London Olympics venues which were already in place before the bid are the Wimbledon All England Club, Wembley Stadium, Lord’s Cricket Ground, Wembley Arena, The O2 Arena, Weymouth, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and Portland National Sailing Academy, and the Excel Centre.

Above the preparations on the venues, there is also a hard groundwork for the athletes. And like the budgetary controversies, some Olympic athletes have not been exempted from the hullabaloos! Recently, the Telegraph Sport revealed that British discus thrower Brett Morse, 22, an Olympic hopeful who reached the final of this summer’s World Championships, is now departed from his former coach Nigel Bevan. So who’s training him now? The Sweden-based coach Vesteinn Hafsteinsson now teams up with Morse. He is also the one who has groomed the Estonian Olympic discus champion Gerd Kanter.

Swedish Discus Thrower Coach was Involved in Steroids

Criticisms went higher with Morse and Hafsteinsson because of the past controversy about the latter. If you will recall it, Hafsteinsson was a former discus thrower and was tested positive for the steroid nandrolone during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He was suspended for two years. Now, Morse is being castigated about the same issue. Eyes are looking at him, and trying to catch him if he will also fall into (taking steroids) the same trap as his current coach did.

The reason for Morse change of coach is still not clear today. And the speculations that he also engages to steroids intake is still uncertain. UK Athletics says it was Morse’s decision to change coaches and insists Hafsteinsson gives his services for free. Nonetheless, Morse’s former coach, Bevan, argues that the move to hire Hafsteinsson as Morse’s new coach was orchestrated by the UK Athletics. This goes along with the evidence of an email that has been sent to him by the UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee on October 2010.

In that email, Van Commenee explains that he has spoken to Morse and says: “Brett agrees that he should spend considerable time with Vestein Hafsteinson [sic]. You, as Brett’s coach, need to be kept in the loop as well, also in order to develop yourself as a discus coach. .. This means that you, at times, have to be exposed to Vestein’s knowledge and experience as well. This does not mean that every time Brett travels you have to be with him.”

Coach Bevan never went to Sweden to oversee his ward while training with Hafsteinson. The discuss thrower already severed ties with his former coach. Another promising Olympian, Eden Francis was also training together with Morse.

Former Coach not In Favor Working with Hafsteinson

The UK discuss thrower coach clarified that he had no ill feeling against the disgraced Olympian. He admits, Hafsteinson can help Morse in the latter’s bid for the Olympics in 2012. However, what he doesn’t like is working with a coach who served a drug ban for taking steroids. The UK Athletics is also imposing a zero tolerance for steroids and working for a coach and former Olympian who was caught using steroids is not a good example even if that person can help them win gold medals in 2012 Summer Olympics.