LAS VEGAS – It seems boxing champ Floyd Mayweather isn't the only fighter who believes Olympic-style drug testing should be more prevalent in combat sports.
At Monday's "The Ultimate Fighter 12" media day at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, opposing coaches Georges St-Pierre (20-2 MMA, 14-2 UFC) and Josh Koscheck (15-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) both said they think a more stringent program should be in place for their December bout.
St-Pierre said he believes cheaters need to be caught now before performance-enhancing drugs ruin the sport, while Koscheck said from what he's heard, the champ might need to look in the mirror.
"From what I've heard from other fighters in other camps, yeah, [St-Pierre] has done steroids and HGH, possibly," Koscheck told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I don't know. This is just on hearsay information that I've gotten.
"B.J. Penn and his camp gave me a little phone call. They were saying, 'Yeah, he's on steroids. He's this; he's that.' I said, 'Yeah, there's a possibility.' The guy is pretty ripped all year round."
Koscheck made it clear that he was not making a direct accusation of impropriety from the UFC's welterweight champ but rather just passing on what he had heard from other sources. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old believes he and St-Pierre should both submit to blood testing throughout their camp.
"I would love to do it; why not?" Koscheck asked. "I think Olympic-style testing would be great for our sport. At least you do it a couple times out from the fight.
"I think it will be a great idea."
Olympic-style drug testing is considered superior to the typical urine-based tests used by athletic commissions around the country because by taking blood, the test is able to identify a greater range of performance-enhancing drugs, including Human Growth Hormone (HGH).
The process gained notoriety in combat sports circles in late 2009 when Mayweather and fellow superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao scrapped a potential contest after being unable to reach an agreement regarding drug testing procedures.
When asked his opinion on the matter, St-Pierre said not only would he be approve Olympic-style testing, he believes the entire sport should embrace the process.
"I have no problem; any time he wants," St-Pierre said. "I stand for that more than anybody else. I stand for this, and I just hope it's going to happen soon. I know a lot of people cheat in this sport, and it's unacceptable.
"I'm for random drug testing. There's nobody in the UFC that agrees more with random testing then me. ... Anything they want, I don't care. I give my body to science."
St-Pierre said he wasn't necessarily surprised that he was the target of such discussion, but he adamantly denies that he's ever used performance-enhancing substances.
"I'm not a coward," St-Pierre said. "Anyone that uses steroids is a cheater. I don't need to cheat to win. I am like I am, and I'm somebody that is not a coward.
"I'm not afraid of Josh Koscheck, and I don't need to cheat to beat him. I'm going to beat him by the book and using the right way."
While St-Pierre said his muscle gain has come through hard work and an increased focus on a proper diet, he believes there are some fighters who aren't as committed to going by the book. The Canadian superstar said he believes that Olympic-style testing could help to reveal some of those athletes that have gained success with the help of chemicals.
"I just hope that it's going to happen and happen soon," St-Pierre said. "I want it to happen. I don't know who uses [performance-enhancing drugs]. I have no idea, and I'm not going to say any names, but I want it to happen soon. What's happening now, it's going to be bad. It's going to be like a certain other sport. I don't want to say the name of the sport, but it's not going to be the best fighter that wins the fight.
"Now, what makes a good fighter is a lot of genetics, the style, the skills, the heart. Now there is another factor that influences the fight: the team of doctors behind the fighter. This should not be an element that helps a fighter to win a fight. That's something I am against. It's not everybody that stands for that, and I don't. I think everybody should be testing like the Olympic Games."
While the UFC has yet to determine where the December matchup between St-Pierre and Koscheck will take place, it will ultimately be up to the governing commission to determine what steps are taken to ensure a level-playing field. Both fighters say they're willing to submit to increased regulations, though Koscheck believes he's destined to win regardless of St-Pierre's tactics.
"I plan on making Georges stand toe-to-toe with me," Koscheck said. "This isn't going to be a wrestling match. I'm going to force him to stand-up with me because I believe he doesn't have knockout power. We've just got to pray to God that he doesn't grease up, and he gets off that juice so that we can equal things about it.
"I just want to let him know that if he's going to do that, it doesn't matter. I'm still going to beat you because it can't make the chin that much stronger. His chin's still weak."
At Monday's "The Ultimate Fighter 12" media day at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, opposing coaches Georges St-Pierre (20-2 MMA, 14-2 UFC) and Josh Koscheck (15-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) both said they think a more stringent program should be in place for their December bout.
St-Pierre said he believes cheaters need to be caught now before performance-enhancing drugs ruin the sport, while Koscheck said from what he's heard, the champ might need to look in the mirror.
"From what I've heard from other fighters in other camps, yeah, [St-Pierre] has done steroids and HGH, possibly," Koscheck told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I don't know. This is just on hearsay information that I've gotten.
"B.J. Penn and his camp gave me a little phone call. They were saying, 'Yeah, he's on steroids. He's this; he's that.' I said, 'Yeah, there's a possibility.' The guy is pretty ripped all year round."
Koscheck made it clear that he was not making a direct accusation of impropriety from the UFC's welterweight champ but rather just passing on what he had heard from other sources. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old believes he and St-Pierre should both submit to blood testing throughout their camp.
"I would love to do it; why not?" Koscheck asked. "I think Olympic-style testing would be great for our sport. At least you do it a couple times out from the fight.
"I think it will be a great idea."
Olympic-style drug testing is considered superior to the typical urine-based tests used by athletic commissions around the country because by taking blood, the test is able to identify a greater range of performance-enhancing drugs, including Human Growth Hormone (HGH).
The process gained notoriety in combat sports circles in late 2009 when Mayweather and fellow superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao scrapped a potential contest after being unable to reach an agreement regarding drug testing procedures.
When asked his opinion on the matter, St-Pierre said not only would he be approve Olympic-style testing, he believes the entire sport should embrace the process.
"I have no problem; any time he wants," St-Pierre said. "I stand for that more than anybody else. I stand for this, and I just hope it's going to happen soon. I know a lot of people cheat in this sport, and it's unacceptable.
"I'm for random drug testing. There's nobody in the UFC that agrees more with random testing then me. ... Anything they want, I don't care. I give my body to science."
St-Pierre said he wasn't necessarily surprised that he was the target of such discussion, but he adamantly denies that he's ever used performance-enhancing substances.
"I'm not a coward," St-Pierre said. "Anyone that uses steroids is a cheater. I don't need to cheat to win. I am like I am, and I'm somebody that is not a coward.
"I'm not afraid of Josh Koscheck, and I don't need to cheat to beat him. I'm going to beat him by the book and using the right way."
While St-Pierre said his muscle gain has come through hard work and an increased focus on a proper diet, he believes there are some fighters who aren't as committed to going by the book. The Canadian superstar said he believes that Olympic-style testing could help to reveal some of those athletes that have gained success with the help of chemicals.
"I just hope that it's going to happen and happen soon," St-Pierre said. "I want it to happen. I don't know who uses [performance-enhancing drugs]. I have no idea, and I'm not going to say any names, but I want it to happen soon. What's happening now, it's going to be bad. It's going to be like a certain other sport. I don't want to say the name of the sport, but it's not going to be the best fighter that wins the fight.
"Now, what makes a good fighter is a lot of genetics, the style, the skills, the heart. Now there is another factor that influences the fight: the team of doctors behind the fighter. This should not be an element that helps a fighter to win a fight. That's something I am against. It's not everybody that stands for that, and I don't. I think everybody should be testing like the Olympic Games."
While the UFC has yet to determine where the December matchup between St-Pierre and Koscheck will take place, it will ultimately be up to the governing commission to determine what steps are taken to ensure a level-playing field. Both fighters say they're willing to submit to increased regulations, though Koscheck believes he's destined to win regardless of St-Pierre's tactics.
"I plan on making Georges stand toe-to-toe with me," Koscheck said. "This isn't going to be a wrestling match. I'm going to force him to stand-up with me because I believe he doesn't have knockout power. We've just got to pray to God that he doesn't grease up, and he gets off that juice so that we can equal things about it.
"I just want to let him know that if he's going to do that, it doesn't matter. I'm still going to beat you because it can't make the chin that much stronger. His chin's still weak."
