Endocrinologist: Chael Sonnen’s initial diagnosis of hypogonadism not definitive

Just prior to his rematch with now-former middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnendramatically declared that he needed to undergo testosterone-replacement therapy, or he would die.

A year later he told California regulators that, if he discontinued the treatment, he would have the hormone levels of a 93-year-old.

A doctor who recently reviewed Sonnens medical history would agree the fighter now needs to use prescribed testosterone to compete as a professional athlete. But she is uncertain whether he needed it in the first place.

In a letter written to Sonnens management, which was forwarded to the Nevada State Athletic Commission with the fighters second request to undergo TRT for UFC 167 this past month, University of Arizona endocrinologist Karen Louise Herbst concluded the fighter meets the criteria for hormone-replacement therapy (TRT). She said he is likely permanently hypogonadal because he has used testosterone since 2008.

It may be that suppression of his gonadal axis for that long may never allow a return to normalcy, and discontinuing his testosterone use at this time would be very disruptive to his career, she wrote.

But Herbst also expressed reservations about his initial diagnosis of testosterone deficiency. She said that based on initial data, it is not clear that there was a definitive (without a doubt) diagnosis of hypogonadism.

It is unclear how Herbst came to work with Sonnen. NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie she was referred to the fighter by the UFC and would be reviewing fighters medical histories for the promotion in the future. UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner said the UFC had no hand in the process and said Herbst was Sonnens doctor.

Sonnen and his management did not respond to requests for comment.

The commission granted Sonnen a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) for UFC 167, a Nov. 16 pay-per-view event. He lost to former champ Rashad Evans via first-round TKO. He is one of three active UFC fighters granted a TUE for TRT from the commission, along with ex-champs Frank Mir and Dan Henderson.

See the article here:
Endocrinologist: Chael Sonnen’s initial diagnosis of hypogonadism not definitive