UFC commentator Joe Rogan is the latest to speak out on former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw’s failed drug test and a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after he tested positive for the synthetic hormone erythropoietin (rHuEPO) aka EPO.
Rogan, who has been an outspoken supporter of Dillashaw in the past, explained why he believes the positive test greatly damages Dillshaw’s legacy in mixed martial arts because it is blatantly cheating.
“To me, it’s a shame because I’m a T.J. fan,” Rogan said on his podcast. “I think he’s a phenomenal fighter and I’m a big fan of watching him perform. But it just taints his legacy. It just does. There’s no way around it. When you get caught cheating – this stuff, there’s no way it’s not cheating. This is just cheating. This isn’t any accident. It taints your legacy, and the guy had an amazing legacy: two-time bantamweight champion, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters.”
EPO helps stimulate the body’s production of red blood cells, which increases oxygen transport and aerobic power in the body. As a result, it increses endurance and delays fatigue which allows an athlete to keep up a high pace for a longer period of time.
“T.J.’s an amazing fighter, but (expletive),” Rogan said. “To test positive for EPO in the Henry Cejudo fight … You’ve got to think, if you’re on EPO – how much does that allow you to train extra time? How much does it allow you to recover? What is the quantifiable benefit? It must be pretty significant. … I almost want to try it.”
You can check out the full comments from Rogan below, beginning at the 37-minute mark.
Dillashaw made his flyweight debut in his most recent outing against 125-pound champion Henry Cejudo. In the bout, Dillashaw suffered a 30-second knockout loss which snapped a four-fight winning streak.
The 33-year-old Dillashaw cannot return to action until 2021.