MMA Fighter Kirill Sidelnikov Blames Positive Steroid Test on Winstrol-Based Nose Spray
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Will Baby Fedor’s Alleged Steroid Use Tarnish Other Russian MMA Fighters?
Mixed martial artist Kirill Sidelnikov tested positive for stanozolol, popularly known as Winstrol, resulting from a steroid urinalysis administered during a fight weigh-in on January 24, 2009. Kirill “Baby Fedor” Sidelnikov lost to Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello after a medical stoppage resulting from a third round technical knockout at at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The Russian Sambo specialist was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Bill Douglas, the CSAC assistant executive officer, explains that any detectable level of stanozolol represents a violation of the CSAC anti-doping protocols:
| “Kirill Sidelnikov, who last competed at Affliction’s Day of Reckoning event on January 24, has been suspended for testing positive for Stanozolol. The suspension period is retroactive to the conclusion of the bout on January 24 and runs through January 18, 2010. He has been fined $2,500. The mere presence of Stanozolol in the system constitutes a violation under the new testing procedures for CSAC.” |
The prevalence of anabolic steroids in mixed martial arts (MMA) has been debated for several years. Several MMA athletes at the higher level of the sport have been caught using steroids. Anti-doping advocates have pressured sanctioning organizations to institute strict steroid testing protocols consistent with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
Most MMA fighters who use anabolic steroids are reported to use very reasonable amounts. The dose-dependent tendency of steroids to increase muscle mass may compromise performance in the ring by interfering with technique and conditioning of an MMA fighter. Consequently, the dosages used are extremely modest when compared to strength and power athletes in sports like bodybuilding and powerlifting.
Given the primary importance of strength and conditioning training and technique training over mere muscle size in MMA, most competitors generally do not seem overly concerned that some of the fighters they face in the ring may use performance-enhancing drugs.
Kirill Sidelnikov’s most recent opponent was asked about Sidelnikov’s suspension for steroid use. Paul Buentello, upon learning that his opponent at Affliction’s Day of Reckoning may have been using Winstrol, said his opinion of Sidelnikov was based on his performance in the ring, “No, I don't lose any respect. The respect starts and ends when you step into the ring. He stepped into that ring and he fought his heart out.” Buentello admittedly may have felt differently if he had lost the match.
Baby Fedor’s use of steroids, in and of itself, may not have a demonstrable affect on his reputation in MMA circles. Sidelnikov’s credibility will more likely be affected by M-1 Global’s official explanation of the positive steroid test. While accepting full responsibility for the positive steroid test, Sidelnikov’s mea culpa blamed the positive test to the inadvertent use of a stanozolol-based nasal spray administered by a physician not associated with M1 Global or Sidelnikov’s Red Devil team.
| “Not wanting to miss any training time leading up to “Day of Reckoning,” Kirill followed the advice of a coach not affiliated with M-1 who gave him a nose spray commonly used in Russia to help treat some of his symptoms. It is M-1’s belief that the nose spray is what contained the Stanozol. |
The use of a Winstrol type nose spray as a medical treatment for nose bleeds seems suspect. Paul Buentello was diplomatic when addressing the nose spray explanation, “You never know… So that could be the case or it could not be the case. I'm not the one that has to defend him.”
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) rejected the explanation outright. “[Stanozolol] can be used in various forms, but is not something that would be found in a decongestant nose spray,” according to USADA communications and outreach director Erin Hannan.
M1 apparently anticipated that the explanation might be questioned. Consequently, they used Kirill’s physique as proof that he was not a regular steroid user. The fact that Sidelnikov does not look like a bodybuilder, while not necessarily proving anything, seems to have been more well received,
| “For those that are skeptical of this explanation, we believe Kirill’s account is true based in large part to his physique. If he had been using large amounts of Stanozol on a regular basis, we believe that the frame of his upper body would have contained leaner muscle that had more definition.” |
It is too early to assess the fallout from the latest MMA steroid positive. Sidelnikov has been called “Baby Fedor” because of his friendship and training partnership with Fedor Emelianenko. It remains to be seen if other Russian athletes and/or members of the Russian Red Devil team are tarnished through their association with Sidelnikov. Kirill Sidelnikov’suspension for the Winstrol-positive test runs through January 18, 2010.
Sources
“Sidelnikov Camp Blames Nose Spray for Steroid,” March 5, 2009
“M-1 Global issues statement regarding positive steroid test for Kirill ‘Baby Fedor’ Sidelnikov,” March 4, 2009
“MMA Fighter Paul Buentello Reacts to Opponent's Failed Steroid Test,” March 4, 2009
“Kirill "Baby Fedor" Sidelnikov suspended one year for failed drug test,” March 3, 2009
“Steroids in Mixed Martial Arts,” T-Nation
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