"Naming Names" - Would You Welcome It?

[Inigo Montoya]

Most of us want a clean sport, but it's easier said than done.
The eradication methods used today are just not that effective. Random tests are too expensive, fighter education would never work, drug testing agreement between opponents get's ugly and deterrence by punishment is irrelevant since fighters don't expect to be caught.

The most unpleasant method could also prove to be the most effective one.
A fighter from a big team (doesn't have to be an active or a ufc fighter) that would have the balls to expose fighters would make huge waves in the sport, and more importantly - would actually pin point suspect cheaters.

Now obviously no one would like to be labelled a snitch and that's probably why MMA doesn't have it's Floyd Landis yet (though we're all happy Landis did what he did).
That's exactly where my question lies - Would you guys commend a fighter for naming names or would you lose respect for him and consider him a rat?

That's the main issue imo. Until fighters feel like it's safe to speak out, they wont.
Cycling was ripe for Landis to open up Pandora's box, and with GSP's crusade, the Cheal-Wandy fiasco, Vitor's controversial licensing and Bocek retiring because of drug use, I feel like MMA is getting there too.

 

[LongSlenderBody***]

Everybody loves snitches.

 

[Stonethecrow01]

I'm not from the states so let me know if this isn't how things work but, once a fighter names names no one is going to go to that guys house and test him, so won't the named fighter sue the other guy for ruining his rep or some such.

 

[Freddy Mercury]

Does it matter? Does the sherdog fan base play that significant of a role in fighters lives that they will act if we say we would commend a fighter for naming names?

NO!

Then you're just peeing into the wind asking such questions. Pee away Inigo, and keep looking for the man with 6 fingers. Presumably that extra digit can point to the cheaters.

 

[PrinceOfPain]

I don't really see the point in making it a 'clean sport' but I would love to know who is using.

That said, someone ratting out his peers would be a huge douche.

 

[scrubido]

I don't really see the point in making it a 'clean sport' but I would love to know who is using.

That said, someone ratting out his peers would be a huge douche.

No, letting someone get away with cheating because you're afraid of being uncool is truly douchey.

 

[PorkPiePusher]

someone ratting out his peers would be a huge douche.

If I'm clean, juicers are hardly my peers and I can't really see how I owe any loyalty to them. In any case, if anyone were to come out in such a fashion, he better be damned sure he's pointing the finger at real juicers. Other than that I have no problem with snitching.

 

[countswagula]

The problem is, what kind of credibility does being someone's training partner really lend you?

 

[PrinceOfPain]

No, letting someone get away with cheating because you're afraid of being uncool is truly douchey.

So you think the only reason not to point fingers is because you're afraid of being 'uncool'?
Fascinating.

If I'm clean, juicers are hardly my peers and I can't really see how I owe any loyalty to them. In any case, if anyone were to come out in such a fashion, he better be damned sure he's pointing the finger at real juicers. Other than that I have no problem with snitching.

Personally, I wouldn't think of it as what I owe them. It's more about what kind of person I want to be, and I personally would not want to be a snitch. There's no guarantee that ratting everyone out will clean up the sport, but it's pretty much guaranteed that you're going to mess up other people's careers for no discernible gain.

That's pretty petty, and, by my mind, a douche move.

 

[BigGulp]

who cares? really?

I suspect at the very least 50% of the roster is on some form of PED, and it wouldn't surprise me if 80-90% had taken PED's in the past.

edit: I bet half the people here talking about how they dont want to be a snitch love to push that report button any chance they get.

So I wouldn't judge someone if they released the names of people they knew, there's no real difference between someone that snitches in public or in private.

 

[Black Gi]

Cycling was ripe for Landis to open up Pandora's box, and with GSP's crusade, the Cheal-Wandy fiasco, Vitor's controversial licensing and Bocek retiring because of drug use, I feel like MMA is getting there too.

You remember why Landid opened up right?

 

[iBrokeNoMallet]

The problem is that most of the guys in the top ten are on something. There have been a few times during interviews, old and recent, when fighters have looked really shady when discussing PED's and then proceed to mention how they have completely changed their diet etc.
I find the very fact that sherdog penalizes posters and labels them fighter bashers is countering the fans ability to have a hand in making this sport cleaner. We should have an entire section that is dedicated to this subject that intensifies the spotlight on these cheaters. IMO in this case overt suspicion is better than silence.
There have been fighters outside of the performance stack pay grade who have been derailed and mauled by obvious users. The common consensus behind closed doors is "I'm not cheating if everybody else is doing it" and there so many guys outside of the top ten who are suffering physically and psychologically because of this mentality.

 

[Priceinator]

Nobody should be surprised if any fighter (yes, even your favorites) turns out getting busted. Testing is getting better and it will cut down on some of it (the punishment is scary enough), but no sports is without users.

Snitches aren't necessary.

 

[El Moose]

I wouldn't welcome it no, but I'd be interested in reading such a list if it were to come out

 

[Jim Rockford]

who cares? really?

I suspect at the very least 50% of the roster is on some form of PED, and it wouldn't surprise me if 80-90% had taken PED's in the past.

this^

i like MMA,but its not even close to being my favourite sport,i'd be far more 'upset' if there was anything untoward happening in them.

not from the US,how did the for/against debate on ped's in baseball go ? I read a while back some people thought it was worse off due to less home runs.

 

[fight4god]

Meh, they're all using. Event favorites.

 

[Osstopher McGi]

snitches are a dying breed

 

[PorkPiePusher]

Personally, I wouldn't think of it as what I owe them. It's more about what kind of person I want to be, and I personally would not want to be a snitch. There's no guarantee that ratting everyone out will clean up the sport, but it's pretty much guaranteed that you're going to mess up other people's careers for no discernible gain.

That's pretty petty, and, by my mind, a douche move.

Sooo... I train my ass off to get my strength/speed/endurance to value X, another guy I'm supposed to fight for money who will do all he can to damage my health and possibly shorten my career does the same training regimen but because of flat out cheating his strength/speed/endurance becomes value >X, and I'm supposed to protect him from the authorities by keeping quiet or else I'm a petty douche?

That's some system of values you've got there. Might I inquire in what line of work you operate? Mafia you say! Interesting.

 

[Fozzybear2386]

Absolutely, because the sport is new and everybody wants it to grow most facets of the mma community either support ped usage, or are complacent in their silence. The reality is that most of your favorite fighters cheated their whole careers.

 

[Elysianwing]

I'd love it if everybody just stopped caring about steroids to begin with, seeing as how I don't, at all.


But yeah, I think it'd be pretty great to see the list. Because I'm positive damn near everybody is on it already.