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Cagewriter audio: Victor Conte speaks on Quinton Jackson testosterone issue

Steve Cofield

It's been another one of those weeks for the UFC.

First it was the Dakota Cochrane story and his past in the pornographic movie industry, now comes another star of the sport admitting that he's taking part in testosterone replacement therapy. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson admitted to using TRT.

Performing enhancing drug expert Victor Conte, known best for his involvement in the Balco scandal, tweeted earlier today that the UFC needs to deal with the issue of TRT head on and embrace more stringency when it comes to testing.

We tracked down Conte on "The MMA Insiders" show in Las Vegas. He did a spectacular job of explaining why he thinks MMA fighters turning to TRT is a farce.

Conte's explanation of Jackson's bloated physique makes some sense. It's not often a fighter misses weight by six pounds. Jackson lost the fight last weekend to Ryan Bader but he said it definitely made a difference in getting ready for it:

It was hard for me to train, it takes time to heal, I couldn't do certain things, but this was my first time ever using testosterone. I took what the doctor prescribed to me and I went to the pharmacy… I gave myself small doses and that [expletive] immediately changed me, that's why I am saying now I am not going to retire. I am not gonna retire no time soon, it's just unfortunate that I got this injury.

Conte's reference to VADA is the volunteer anti-doping agency.

Rampage quote via Fight Opinion from Fighter's Only Magazine