It appears that Shane Carwin’s days of woe will continue for the foreseeable future. After coming razor-close to stopping Brock Lesnar at UFC 116 and becoming the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, Carwin was subjected to one of the more dramatic comebacks of recent history: Brock Lesnar submitting him via Arm Triangle Choke. The fight itself pitted two of the largest athletes ever to step foot in the UFC against one another, as both men weighed in for their fight at 265 pounds, the maximum weight you can have as a Heavyweight. But now it appears that Carwin’s impressive size may be due to steroids, not hard work and dedication.
The entire scandal revolves around a nationwide conspiracy to sell illegal anabolic steroids made in Mobile, Alabama. The news came following the sentencing of J. Michael Bennett, a supervising pharmacist at Applied Pharmacy Services. Bennett had been convicted in 2008 on steroid charges, along with several others, and was recently sentenced to four years in prison. At Bennett’s sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins revealed a list of names of athletes that had obtained drugs via the conspiracy. The conspiracy itself resulted in 762,388 dosages of steroids being shipped to 17 doctors and clinics in a two-year period, according to reports. Names on the list included pro wrestlers like Kurt Angle, professional bodybuilders like Toney Freeman and Quincy Taylor, and of course, UFC star Shane “The Engineer” Carwin. So far, Carwin has not commented on this scandal, although his manager recently revealed that a statement was in the works.
If it proves true, I think this could be damning for both Shane Carwin and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts as a whole. This would prove that one of the UFC’s biggest potential stars is chemically enhanced. It sends a message to the public that the UFC may not be as squeaky-clean as it touts itself to be, and it sends a message to prospective fighters that one of the quickest ways to the top is through the juice, considering how quickly Carwin skyrocketed to the top of the pecking order and found himself challenging for a championship. It casts a black mark on Carwin’s entire career, which up until now has had near-unstoppable potential even with his recent loss to Brock Lesnar. Carwin was destined for great things, but now that his name may forever be tied to this conspiracy, he may be branded with a Scarlet Letter and even released from the UFC.
Some may balk at that, saying that the UFC has given second chances to fighters who have tested positive for steroids. But that’s the thing- Carwin never tested positive and was still on the roids. This is the type of story that the media can really stick their teeth in to: not only is a huge UFC star right in the middle of a big nationwide conspiracy, he never once got caught. It says more about the state of popular media than it does the state of steroid testing in MMA, but I think there’s a very real possibility that the media will take this, spin it, blow it out of proportion, and get so many people riled up that the UFC has no choice but to give Carwin the axe. In the realm of exploitative journalism, Shane Carwin may end up being someone’s wet dream come true.
There’s always a chance that Carwin didn’t take steroids, but we’ll never know for sure, will we? And it’s always easier to point the finger of blame than it is to give the benefit of the doubt. So many other professional athletes have gone on the war-wagon about never being on the juice, only for undeniable evidence to the contrary to be revealed. We’ve even had a few personal confessions. If Shane Carwin comes out and adamantly refuses ever taking steroids, it’s honestly going to be tough to believe him.
So what do you think fans and friends? Is Shane Carwin “guilty until proven innocent”, or do you think that he’s a victim of a frame-job?
Shane Carwin: Humble in Defeat, but Facing a Long Road Back to UFC Relevancy
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WHO CARE’S IF HE DID OR DIDN’T. ALL TOP ATHLETE’S HAVE TAKING THE A TIME OR 2 IN THERE CAREER, INCLUDING BROCK, THE NFL, UFC, WRESTLING, BODYBUILING, DO YOU REALLY THINK PEOPLE CAN DO THESE UNREAL THINGS AND HAVE THESE BODY’S WITHOUT THEM!!!! GROW UP, WHY PICK ON A FEW WHO YOU TEST!! IM NOT SAYING THEY ARE RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO ENHANCE YOU STRENGTH AND TALENT, BUT WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE TO DO THEM OR NOT!!! BROCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND THATS WHY HE BEAT SHANE, I THINK SHANE THOUGHT HIS PUNCHES WOULD DO THE TRICK, AND TOOK THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT FOR GRANTED, WITH THE WAY HE PUNCHES AND IF HE PICK’S UP HIS CARDIO AND WORKS ON HIS GROUND GAME, HE WILL BE VERY TOUGH TO BEAT.KIG
Of course he took juice, as ~ 80% of all MMA fighters have done so. You don’t think Lesnar has either?
A guy with carwins frame would be hard pressed to exceed 220 lbs w/o performance enhancing rugs.
Remember you can do heavy cycles of anabolics and then stop using them. one year later you have stll retained 75-80% of the mass and strength from using, despite now testing clean.
This is nothing new, the difference is nowadays athletes have gotten smarter in how they take them,, i dont know the details on how the Nevada SAC tested but it prob not enough, not to pick on shane only, look at Alistar O, i mean come on, are u guys blind, look at his physice now compared to a few years ago,, there is no way he is natural,, i mean he looks like the a greek god,,, 0% body fat,, and he has never been caught,, Maybe he is using HGH,, i dont know but I remember some MMA A interviewing Ken shamrock a few months ago and he stated there are more athletes then we realize that are taking performance enhancing drugs
@ Jay
Jay, for the record I myself am not a user either although have been in the loop for quite some time as to what really happens in sports, being a collegiate athlete myself then competing in boxing, grappling, wrestling , jiu jitsu and mma. If you’re so ignorant as to believe all athletes use steroids to be bigger or stronger then live your dream world brother! In fact many steroids are designed as cutting agents or to lean you up or prevent injuries rather than bulk (winstrol) for example. And while I don’t condone nor do I care what someone else does, I still don’t see the research being done to support or deny what the drugs do in fact offer as far as an advantage over many legal supplements other than they’re cheaper and they actually work. Fact is that research will never be done openly for the public to see. Another fact is that no death or major health condition has ever been linked soley to the use of anabolic steroids ever! Yes this is a fact people, and again coming from a non user, a collegiate athlete and now medical proffessional who is basing my opinion on facts! What it really comes down to is a question of morality in most athletic related cases as to whether or not that individual holds the mental capacity to believe that he/she is able to perform at his/her best without using. Again I say your morals are not my morals so if you wish to take ped’s who am I to say you shouldn’t. The worst thing to admit is that we,the fans of baseball,football,basketball,golf and yes mma actually set the bar to high to ever be reached, were never satisfied with almost or close enough, we want more and these people feel in their heads that they should give it. A scientist in germany stated that he estimated nearly 70% of all pro athletes in the world have experimented with performance enhancing drugs at least once in their carreer and that number jumps to 76% of male athletes in america. That roughly 60% of men who just frequent their neighborhood gym and workout on a regular basis are on gear. And you talk of legality as if it matters now. The records that were set in the 60′s and 70′s in most sports especially basesball were set in a period when the steroids were legal to obtain and never tested for! Look at the bodybuilders of that era who openly used and ask a bodybuilder now what he takes and see yourself to the door. And my government comment comes from 1st hand observation as well. While serving in our military I witnessed these ped’s used rampantly and witout fear of being degrated. College athletics can’t even begin to compare to what pressure is put on soldiers to be bigger stronger and faster except now its really promoted in most combat or elite units because peoples lives depend on you performing. When you point the finger 4 more are pointing at you and laughing jay saying get your facts together. And you never did any of those things I listed huh? Probably because I said testicle swinging alpha male not runt of the pack whom most likely lacks the desire to compete or just lacks the talent in general with or without ped’s. If you’ve never tried winning its because you’re a born loser bro! Seems the best captains of ships never leave the shore huh? They criticize but what have you done? Where’s your reality tv show or hbo special? Exactly what I thought, noone cares about you or instead of carwin you’re worried about it would be jays homosexuality revealed next on msnbc right after paris hiltons new shoe line revealed. If you’re unimportant stay that way leave these athletes to do what they do and that’s shock and awe the fans!
You steroid apologists are lame. They’re drugs, they’re illegal, they enhance performance unfairly, end of story. The media is not on a witch hunt. As a matter of fact the problem with the media is glorifying winning and glorifying big muscle bodies — not being against steroids. No, the resolution, I haven’t done any of those things you mention.
@ Oliver Saenz
@ Ryan
I certainly would have to agree with ryan and have already posted my comment but wanted to leave something on a lot of peoples minds out there. You call these people cheaters and point fingers at these athletes as if they have some disease while you yourself are most likely infected with the win syndrome,at least if your any bit of a testicle swinging alpha male you know its there! Have you ever asked your buddy for an answer to a quiz question at school? Ever speed to work in the morning even if your not late? Ever bought a hot girl a drink to loosen the mood in hopes of getting lucky? I bet you same people who critisize have to have yourself a couple cups of tax credited meth(coffee) that is,just to wake up in the morning? You’re a cheater! Legally but really you just want an edge, you want to be better! Its not wrong its the nature of man to want to be better! Let’s see some good old fashion research on these drugs to see if in fact they are making you better anyway. Most guys I know who used really just trained way harder when they used like it was a mental block removed saying “let’s train”. Steroids don’t make you a better athlete or arnold wouldve been smacking balls out of the park or running for touchdowns too. I sparred a bodybuilderr once and he quit after one 3 minute round and went to puke. Its the work that’s put in your sport, your so called reps and training that get you places on the juice or not!
I personally would not be surprised if carwin experimented with some anabolics in his collegiate carreer or early on in his mma venture. Use of anabolics is shockingly common all over the country to those who don’t train or compete its shocking anyway. You have to wonder if it really is just leveling the playing field now in cases where many are coming forward or are implicated in cases involving steroid practices but never tested positive throughout their careers. Most likely they used early on but chances are they dosed off season and cleaned up during show time,keeping what gains in strength they could salvage. But who’s to say what is fair? Tiger woods peaked in his career after having laser vision correction that made his vision better than perfect! Is this cheating? Nolan ryan and roger clemmons used cortizone injections during games to push through to win, is this cheating? And let’s not ven venture into places government doesn’t want to look where anabolics use runs rampant like our military especially elite units! But honestly isn’t all fair in war? I know I want the new g.i joe watching over me while I sleep not the 70′s g.i joe. Bigger stronger faster is what our nation earns for is it any surprise our most elite athletes now are using,no! What’s surprising is how many athletes my dad watched succeed in the late 70′s and 80′s that just won’t admit they did it too.
Nothing is certain right now, but honestly, it’s going to be tough to prove that Carwin didn’t receive steroids and didn’t take them. He was not “simply listed on a piece of paper”, he was listed on a piece of paper that SPECIFICALLY stated that these athletes received steroids as part of the conspiracy.
Your assertion that “Carwin never tested positive and was still on the roids” is premature. He is simply listed on a piece of paper as a patient of a doctor who was implicated in a steroid sting. There is no proof yet to say that he definitely was on steroids. This is still America and one is innocent until proven guilty. Personally, I don’t care if he used steroids. I don’t believe for a second that Brock never touched the stuff, he was just smart enough to keep his name away from the supply list. I also don’t buy the argument that Carwin’s use of steroids 4 years ago endangered Lesnar’s life in the octagon. Fighters get a chance to size up their opponent’s strengths before signing the contract. When you sign up to fight a gorilla, enhanced or not, you are placing your life in their hands.
well said Ryan.
The media, and that includes most MMA journalists don’t know what really goes on. Carwin MAY have used steroids in the past. Probably when he was just starting to fight, or right before. But I seriously doubt he has used them while in the UFC, at least no more than most other fighters do in training camp. Look at his physique during his first few small-time fights and compare it to his UFC physique. They are much different. Also compare Brock Lesnar’s WWE physique to his UFC physique. Same thing. These guys don’t need to take steroids to get bigger and stronger, they’re already there. It would just add muscle that would make it even harder to cut to 265 and cause them to use more oxygen and create more lactic acid, making them tire quicker. Perhaps they use rbc stimulating drugs but that’s speculation and again probably no more than any other fighters. Both guys recently had newborns so I doubt they are doing that much shit. People need to look at themselves and figure out why they get so riled up about athletes and drugs. Is it because even with every PED available they could not compete at the lowest levels or is it because the media has told them to get indignant? The false information and yellow journalism concerning PED is rediculous. People need to shut up, get informed and enjoy the show. Leave athletes alone. They do what they do because YOU demand it.