Marquardt Says He Needed Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Nate Marquardt

Marquardt reveals testosterone disorder

Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen have plenty in common.

Marquardt revealed today on MMAFighting.com that he suffers from low testosterone – the same testosterone deficiency that kick-started Sonnen’s troubles with the California State Athletic Commission.

Marquardt said that he began the treatment last August when he began feeling sluggish and irritable.

Marquardt was given a clearance by the New Jersey commission for his fight with Dan Miller, but he was required to go off treatment for eight weeks before taking a battery of blood tests. He was then given a doctor’s note saying that he needed replacement therapy. This was three weeks prior to the fight with Rick Story. Marquardt’s doctor put him on a more aggressive treatment program since he was so close to his fight.

Two weeks later, he took a blood test, which came back high for testosterone. His doctor recommended that he go off of the treatment so as to fall within normal testing ranges, and Mardquardt did so. Subsequent blood tests showed decreasing levels of testosterone, but on a test taken the morning of the weigh-in, Marquardt’s testosterone levels were still slightly high. Because of that, Marquardt was not allowed to fight.

A test taken the morning of the fight – after Marquardt was already disqualified – showed that his testosterone levels were in the proper range. Marquardt (and manager Lex McMahon) said that Pennsylvania commissioner Greg Sirb told them on Tuesday morning that Marquardt has met all the proper medical requirements to have his suspension lifted.

After he was refused medical clearance, his main event fight with Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4 fell apart, and Marquardt was subsequently released from the UFC by an irate Dana White.

More updates to come shortly.