NJ AC Doesn’t Think Banning TRT Is The Answer

The Association of Ringside Physicians released a statement earlier this week calling for the ban of TRT and TUE’s inside the arena of Combat sports.

The New Jersey Athletic Commission disagrees as told by Dr. Sherry Wulkan, their lead MMA/kickboxing ringside physician, and Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee Co-Chair, via bloodyelbow.com:

In my opinion, the determination as to whether athletes requiring replacement therapy should be allowed to compete is an administrative decision for the athletic Commissioners and Executive Directors.

The determination as to whether or not a patient currently requires a given therapeutic intervention is a medical decision. It is incumbent upon physicians to treat patients, (provided the appropriate work-up and documentation has been done), to help assure their best quality of life.

The ABC medical committee, which I serve as Co-Chair with Dr.Wayne Lee, in 2011, published strict requirements to determine whether, in fact, a TUE for TRT should be granted. We had already established guidelines which fully addressed the concerns now raised in the ARP’s press release. “Steroid use” and “unmerited testosterone” have never been supported or encouraged by any combat sports physician or athletic commission of which I am aware. However, some athletic commissions have been lax in their drug testing for PEDs for all athletes.

In New Jersey, it is a very onerous procedure to be considered for the grant of a TUE for TRT.