The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspended UFC welterweight contender Thiago Alves (10-3) for eight months and fined him $5,500 for testing positive for a banned diuretic — Spironolactone — in the aftermath of his victory over Tony Desouza (10-3) at UFC 66 on December 30, according to MMAWeekly.com.
We’ve been following this story since the news broke. To read all the various posts on the issue you can get to them here.
Certainly, the NSAC has come down hard on the Brazilian, who trains with the American Top Team camp in Florida.
Alves put on a tremendous performance against DeSouza, and was scheduled to fight Josh Burkman at UFC Fight Night 8 less than four weeks later before the positive results came back.
The suspension means that we won’t see Alves for almost a full year. And, he was just starting to make some waves at 170.
I’m not so sure the punishment fits the crime.
Oh well … I guess he’s learned his lesson.
9 Comments »
Hell no it doesn’t fit the crime!!!! There has been many fighters caught with actual steroids in their system (Tim ‘when i’m on steroids im a maniac’ Silvia, Stephen Bonner even though he lossed anyway and ect. Sure fine and suspend him but for 8 months!?! Something someones not telling.
Totally agree Tommy. It isnt like he cheated to win, he cheated to make weight. Thats a huge difference. Fine and suspend, yes, but eight freaking months?!?! Punishment does not fit the crime.
yeah i dont get it either, hes an exciting fighter that people liked to watch, it seems like hes getting better and better…bad timing for a big suspension…is exlax banned too??
It’s a 2 fight ban, I don’t think that’s too much. Steriods are a more controlled substance, but it does longer term damage, so the fighter will be screwed after his career. Taking a heavy diuretic could affect his actual fight recovery, possibly leading to a fighter dying in the ring (like when the Pro bodybuilder Benazziza died on stage).
From the UFC perspective, overuse of diuretics before a fight are probably more dangerous to the franchise than intermittent steriod use.
BTW spironolactone is a steriod …
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cataldactone.htm
Exlax is a diauretic so im thinking it is banned. As for the Alves issue I think that sux aswell, I loved the fight he was last in pummling Desouza. Its to bad the fight will become a no-contest bout. Can he go and fight outside of the US?
hahaha… exlax is not a diuretic. its a laxative. i dont konw why he picked aldactone though. lasix would work much better.
for the fans…
lasix, aldactone, HCTZ are the diuretics–they rev up the kidneys and help you to pee off your weight
exlax, golytely, enemas and others are laxatives–they help you clean out your bowels to lose the weight
btw–
aldactone is a steroid, but its not anabolic. it has no use for gaining a competative edge as far as strength gain–its only to lose weight.
the punishment is harsh but a big part of the fight is being able to make weight. alves, if you eat aloe gel you will shit like crazy but check to make sure its legal first.