Birchak: Ban on IVs is F@$%ing $#!^^*

USADA representatives recently visited ATT gym and explained that post weigh in rehydration via IV would no longer be allowed as a regular regular practice, under USADA TUE Physician Guidelines on INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS. USADA CEO Travis Tygart recently appeared on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and explained the rationale.

 Brett Okamoto reports that UFC athletes will be allowed use of IVs over 50ml post weigh-in UNTIL 10/1, a grace period with new policy.

UFC bantamweight Anthony Birchak recently spoke out against the coming ban, and argued that it is not so much even aimed at fighting excessive weight cutting, but is part of an overall plan to stop blood doping by testing for traces of the plastic bag.

“It’s not to control fighters cutting too much weight,” said Birchak as transcribed by Anton Tabuena for BE. “They’re searching for cheaters, guys who are blood packing, blood doping,” he said on a recent periscope session. “The way they check it is plasticides on your urine. Basically, whatever residue is on the inside of the plastic IV bag, drains into the solution, and you piss those chemicals out. That’s how they see if you’ve been using an IV”

“I think it’s f—-ng dumb. A lot of fighters are going to get knocked out. Guys cutting a lot of weight will have to move back up. I just saw Ian Entwistle get pulled out. I know that guy is huge and probably used 3 or 4 bags to get back up in weight.”

“It’s shitty. I had a very good friend of mine got knocked out because he didn’t rehydrate properly. They’re going to expect us to go out there and fight and not be fully hydrated to the max. We run a big chance of getting knocked out. It’s f—-ng shitty.”

In addition to PED use, mixed martial arts has a major problem with weight cutting, that has only just begun to be addressed. Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, has identified weight cutting as biggest danger in MMA.

Some technological solutions are on the near horizon, but the first step is education.

Foster worked with the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) to draft a memo on the dangers of extreme weight cutting, which is gaining momentum in the MMA space.

THE DANGERS OF CUTTING WEIGHT AND DEHYDRATING

Unhealthy and dangerous weight loss practices continue to be a serious problem in combat sports. One recent study found that 39% of MMA fighters were entering competition in a dehydrated state. Heat illness and death in athletes have already happened in the sports of wrestling and MMA.

It’s been shown that excessive weight loss, rapid weight loss, and repeated cycling of weight gain/loss causes decreased performance, hormonal imbalance, decreased nutrition, and increased injury risk. Other life-threatening problems associated with improper weight loss and dehydration include:

•Decreased Muscle Strength and Endurance: Decreased blood flow to muscles makes them work less well.

•Decreased Heart and Cardiovascular Function: The heart works harder and less efficiently.

•Reduced Energy Utilization, Nutrient Exchange and Acidosis: With decreased blood flow to tissues nutrients don’t get delivered, and the body’s waste products do not get

removed as well. A buildup of acid occurs which ch anges cells’ functions in the body.

•Heat Illness: This takes on four forms: heat cramps, heat syncope (loss of consciousness), heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (which may be fatal). Dehydration results in decreased blood flow to skin and muscles. This is followed by decreased ability to regulate body temperature. The ability to sweat becomes impaired and core body temperature can rise. This increases the threat of all of these to poorly hydrated athletes doing strenuous workouts.

•Decreased Kidney Function: Dehydration leads to decreased kidney blood flow and decreased kidney function. This contributes to the problems listed in the points here, in addition to decreased urine output, concentrated urine, and leakage of protein into the urine. (It is not known if these changes can result in permanent kidney damage.)

•Electrolyte Problems: Decreased kidney function results in imbalances of electrolytes such as unhealthy increases in potassium and sodium.

•Mood Swings and Mental Changes: All of the above contribute to increased mood swings, poor concentration and focus, disorientation and other mental changes.

•Eye Trouble: Dehydration can cause blurred vision and dry eyes.

•Increased Risk of Brain Injury: There are likely increased risks of brain bleeding and concussion.

DON’T:

•Don’t use extreme methods for making weight such as excessive heat methods (rubberized suits, steam rooms, saunas), excessive intense bouts of exercise, vomiting, laxatives and diuretics.

•Don’t use dehydration as a mainstay of making weight. In addition to the above, it puts you at risk of improper rehydration techniques when, in reality, proper re-hydration takes several hours to days. (Many cases intravenous fluids being used for rehydration after weigh-ins have been reported – this is a doping violation with several organizations.)

DO:

•Commit to year-round proper diet and training for proper weight control and body composition.

•By maintaining your weight year round near an appropriate competition weight and not competing in a weight class outside your appropriate weight class you will help avoid large swings in weight.

•Maintain a good state of hydration by drinking fluid throughout the day and staying hydrated during workouts.

•Follow nutritional programs that meet your needs for adequate amounts of calories from a balanced diet high in healthy carbohydrates, the minimum requirement of fat, and appropriate amounts of protein.

•Be wary of nutritional supplements as they are not regulated by the FDA and some have been shown to be harmful.

For more information visit: associationofringsidephysicians.org.

Every fighter, trainer, and official in the sport should familiarize themselves with this.