For most serious athletes, their fierce drive and hard work are the reasons for their success. But one central aspect that most athletes never overlook is their Performance. And when it comes to one of the most challenging sports, i.e., Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), performance becomes the fundamental part of succeeding.  

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MMA tests the true potential and power of an individual, both physically and mentally. Since one fight can be a difference in landing a high-paying contract or getting sacked, the pressure to perform is endless. Most fighters train two to three times a day to gain tremendous strength or recover. But not every MMA fighter is built to achieve brutal strength or endurance in a short time. This is where MMA fighters opt for steroids.   

An artificial alternative to hormones, steroids are designed to reduce inflammation. While they don’t cure a condition, they may provide relief from pain and swelling.

The following part illustrates the commonly used steroids and their effects on MMA fighters.

Note: Artificial steroids of any kind are illegal. For athletes, the intake of artificial steroids might attract a ban from United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Anabolic Steroids Provides Unfair Advantage

Anabolic steroids are powerful drugs that boost a person’s athletic performance. They are a synthetic, manufactured testosterone alternative. Most commonly,  they fall under the category called performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Steroids are known to promote aggression, which is an essential factor for any fight.

Anabolic steroids are said to improve physical appearance and performance. Athletes often take anabolic steroids in combination with a rich protein diet and an intense training program. It may help them gain strength and lean muscle mass, increase body weight and reduce fatigue. All these qualities improve the athlete’s fighting ability. Some athletes frequently take these steroids orally or by injection. 

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Since these steroids enhance an athlete’s performance, they are classified as a banned substance. However, for non-athletes, these steroids are legal and safe under medical prescription. Also check out keto strong to know more about keto diet.

If you are looking for quality steroids, you can visit Canadian Anabolics, a premium online steroid marketplace. They deliver world-class steroids while keeping your personal information safe. 

Some of the popular and common PEDs taken by MMA fighters are

• Testosterone

Testosterone is a commonly known performance enhancer that most combat fighters take. This steroid is used as replacement therapy. 

Testosterone enables an athlete to train harder than before and also shortens the recovery process. Since the athlete can recover quickly, they can work out at a high-intensity level for a longer duration. Training more helps an athlete to gain more muscle mass.

UFA allowed testosterone replacement therapy for many years.
It was intended to help a fighter get back to his normal testosterone level. But fighters intentionally started dropping their testosterone levels to sneak a medical prescription and gain an advantage. Ultimately, USADA banned this therapy, and fighters were compelled to stop using it. 

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• Human Growth Hormone

Another PED that most MMA fighters use is Human Growth Hormone (HGH). This peptide hormone is naturally secreted by our pituitary gland and regulates bone and muscle growth. HGH is often prescribed to individuals with growth hormone deficiency.

Since it has pretty significant performance-enhancing effects, most healthy athletes misuse this growth hormone. HGH usually makes it easier for elite fighters to reduce body fat retention and gain muscle mass. HGH may also promote faster recovery and increases endurance.

• Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone produced naturally by the kidney. EPO may increase the number of red blood cells produced in the bone marrow. It also regulates hemoglobin in the blood. The task of red blood cells is to carry oxygen to muscles and tissues in your body. 

More oxygen to the muscle cells slows down muscle fatigue and increases endurance during the performance. It may also fasten the recovery between workouts. As EPO is known to provide endless stamina, it may also give an undue advantage to MMA fighters.

• Stanozolol

Stanozolol is an injectable drug that veterinarians long used to increase appetite and speed recovery in animals weakened by surgery.

Stanozolol is a synthetic heterocyclic steroid used by many high-profile athletes to enhance their physical performance. It helps MMA fighters to get stronger, build muscle mass, and avoid lingering injuries without adding extra bulk to their body.

Stanozolol is one of the most popularly used anabolic PEDs. But unlike other anabolic steroids, it focuses on increasing force production without impacting the body weight.

Conclusion

The “win at any cost” attitude prevalent in MMA fights often compels elite fighters to use steroids and gain a technical advantage. But the implementation of USADA into the UFC has seen a decline in steroid abuse amongst MMA fighters.

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For non-athletes, without a valid license, the possession or sale of anabolic steroids is illegal in the USA. Since steroids are classified as a schedule III drug in the USA, illegal possession might have legal consequences.

Steroids can be a great way to treat medical conditions like hormone deficiency or imbalance. However, you should only obtain and use steroids under a prescription from a medical professional.