Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Mo “King Mo” Lawal have displayed a great deal of animosity for each other over the past few years. Lawal hasn’t taken kindly to being called “Queen Mo” among other things by Jackson. Lawal summed up the state of their relationship when he told The MMA Hour that “I don’t like him, he don’t like me!”
So it comes as no surprise that Jackson wouldn’t miss an opportunity to comment on “King Mo’s” positive steroid test. Lawal tested positive for Masteron during the post-fight drug screen at the “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” event on January 7, 2012.
“He talk a big game, he say all this stuff, he’s calling people bums and everything, and it’s just karma,” Jackson told Karyn Bryant of MMAHeat.com. “Look at him. He’s a very cocky individual. I feel like any fighter that has to use steroids to go in a cage and fight somebody is not a true fighter.”
Rampage Jackson did allow exceptions for some MMA fighters to use anabolic steroids. He attempted to distinguish between fighters who used steroids for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and fighters who used steroid for no other reason than to enhance their performance.
“Some people have problems, like okay, go to the doctor and get it sorted out,” said Jackson. “There are some fighters out there who are of age and they’re doing the right things to stay healthy and stay competitive but somebody blatantly taking anabolic steroids to get in the cage, it’s a sad case. It’s a sad case.”
The use of steroids for TRT in MMA and other sports has been a topic of considerable controversy.
UFC welterweight fighter Dennis Hallman, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, UFC star Nate Marquardt and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson have all admitted using testosterone as part of a medically-supervised treatment for hypogonadism.
“Rampage” Jackson is one of the few fighters who have defended TRT in the sport. Most athletes tend to share the same opinions as UFC middleweight Michael Bisping. They believe MMA fighters use TRT to justify their use of anabolic steroids. “Fighters on TRT are fucking cheats,” according to Bisping.
For the record, Lawal claimed that he is innocent since he and his manager have never heard of the steroid Masteron or drostanolone.
“Both of us are very surprised by these results,” Lawal’s manager told USA Today. “Neither of us has ever heard of this drug. … We honestly have no clue where this came from.”
Earlier this year, many fans had hoped to see Jackson and Lawal settle their differences in the ring. At one time there were rumors that Jackson and Lawal would face each other at UFC Japan in February 2012 since they both have a strong Japanese fan base given their time competing in Pride and Sengoku.
Instead, Lawal will likely be suspended for 6-12 months by Strikeforce for his use of Masteron. Meanwhile, Jackson will fight Ryan Bader in Tokyo come February.
Photo credit: Mark Richardson / Wikipedia
Source:
Fightline. (January 18, 2012). MMA News: “Rampage” Jackson Talks “King Mo’s” Failed Drug Test. Retrieved from http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/boxingmma/mma-news-rampage-jackson-talks-king-mos-failed-drug-test
Brookhouse, B. (January 18, 2012). Manager Of ‘King Mo’ Says Fighter Received Non-Anabolic Steroid Injection. Retrieved from http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/1/18/2716599/manager-of-king-mo-says-fighter-received-non-anabolic-steroid
