Benson: Not right that I’m guilty by association after PED test fails
Benson Henderson: “We all know I don’t, I know I don’t, but the fact that I have to defend myself because of guilt by association, I don’t think that’s the way it should be.”
The testing for PEDs in mixed martial arts recently got more sophisticated, and confirmed what the hardcore fanbase has long understood – it is a massive problem. There are however clean fighters too, and they are tarred by association, and they are not happy.
Benson Henderson spoke with Damon Martin for FOX Sports in Colorado on Thursday, and “Smooth” is ruffled at the guilt by association.
“Guilty by association,” said Henderson. “It’s not a good look for the UFC fighters to consistently pop up positive, positive, positive, for all these PEDs. It’s a bad look for the sport. It’s a bad look for us fighters. I have to defend myself for doing drugs? I’m not the last guy, but I shouldn’t have to defend myself from doing drugs.
“We all know I don’t, I know I don’t, but the fact that I have to defend myself because of guilt by association, I don’t think that’s the way it should be.”
“Those PED’s, I can understand from a competitor’s aspect, all the true competitors know what it’s like to do anything – ‘I’m going to run through that wall if it gives me that much more of an edge over my competitors’ – but then there’s lines. There’s lines you cannot cross. You cannot cross this line. It’s a touchy, iffy, weird subject.”
“What you need to do is get your PEW and PEC — a performance enhancing wife and a performance enhancing coach,” said Henderson with a smile. “I’ve got both of those so I’m good.”