NO HOLDS BARRED

(Photo from Blackzilians)

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses some of the recent examples of horrible governance and corruption in the combat sports, including UFC fighter Vitor Belfort being allowed to fight while undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

This essentially is granting Belfort and other fighters using TRT a license and agreement to cheat. Such cheating makes the outcomes of these fights as meaningless as baseball's home run records, and fans are encouraged to spend their money elsewhere. We also read a statement by Dr. Margaret Goodman of VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, on this subject.

Also addressed is the rampant homophobia and transphobia in MMA, coming especially at a time when there has been a wave of anti-LGBT violence and at least one murder in New York, as well the return to action this Friday of transsexual female fighter Fallon Fox at CFA 11. Human rights for LGBT people, including transsexual people and athletes, are something which must be supported.

While grappling has been growing around the world, the new leadership of FILA, the international wrestling federation, has decided to abandon grappling altogether, along with amateur MMA. This absurd decision has opened the door to the possibility of a new grappling federation being formed, as well as an opportunity for catch wrestling to grow among these jilted grapplers. How such bad governance by this new leadership of FILA creates a lose-lose situation for all of wrestling is also discussed.

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