UFC legend Donald Cerrone has admitted to injecting steroids to assist his training after retiring from the octagon earlier this year following six straight losses.
Cerrone had an iconic 16-year professional career that included fighting for world titles and taking on Conor McGregor in a memorable pay-per-view fight that marked the Irishman's comeback after a year and a half out. But after a lengthy losing streak that included five stoppages, he decided to call it a day in July.
Since retiring, the American has no reason to remain a clean athlete, and no longer tests for performance-enhancing drugs under the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as he would have during his fighting days. And he has shown off his chiselled new physique in a series of training photos, explaining that he feels fantastic since using steroids in his post-fighting career.
"I was just literally yesterday in Vegas, I was telling everybody I understand why steroids are illegal now that I'm injecting them into my body," Donald Cerrone said on the Calabasas Fight Companion. "I feel like I'm f***ing 20 again. The training would never stop. You could just literally train as hard as you wanted to, wake up the next day recovered and fresh. Recovery would be the biggest [factor], it's the fountain of youth."
The former lightweight and welterweight has gained considerable mass since hanging up the gloves and continues to train despite being done with the sport. He never tested positive for a banned substance during his time in the UFC or even found himself in any controversy.
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He did have one result overturned due to the use of a banned substance during his early career, but not for a particular performance-enhancing substance. His first-minute submission win over Kenneth Alexander in 2007 was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the use of Hydrochlorothiazide; a diuretic that was likely used to help with his weight cut.
Cerrone fought at lightweight during the early years and peak of his career but made an effort to fight for gold once more up at welterweight later in his years fighting. He took on McGregor at 170lb but was knocked out within seconds by the Irishman who had been out for over a year with an injury.
