Fresh controversy over Belfort and Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

Belfort will be looking to put the controversy to bed ahead of the fight against Dan Henderson

Vitor Belfort's recent claim of being on a new version of TRT, which he branded as “True Revival Touch” has re-ignited the old flame on his long-standing abuse of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Earlier reports had claimed that the UFC allowed Belfort to fight Jon Jones despite his testosterone levels being higher than usual, although, the former UFC light heavyweight champion denied those claims.

The Brazilian re-iterated that he was being completely honest and open about his therapy:

"I was starting my treatment and had approval from my doctor and with the UFC. They need someone to step into the fight and I offer myself. I share all my tests -- all my exams -- with them and one went public”

Ahead of the fight against Chris Weidman for the UFC Middleweight title, Belfort now no longer on the TRT, stated in a fashion integral to his own:

"I didn’t hide anything. You all knew what I was doing, I was doing a treatment. And I still have the deficiency, I’m working with supplements and food. I have a life of sacrifice. I don’t have a normal social life. I won’t reveal my secret, and my doctor’s secret, but we have been using natural things to meet this demand."

This time around, though, prior to his third encounter against Dan Henderson, Belfort said that he was “still in treatment”. The Brazilian fighter has no doubt been heavily talked about on social media, with a lot of fans still supporting him and a lot more criticising him. He is believed to have been using PEDs for a long time.

Talking about UFC 152, where Jones submitted him, he said:

“Everything got approval; I never hide anything from anybody, you know, in the media. I always receive them in my house. I always receive them very open and I talk about it and I never try to handle anything -- I share everything that I knew. In that fight, I approval from the UFC and the commission, you know, I had everything set. I came with no training to fight Jon Jones. I almost submit him in the fight and to tell you the truth, I don't know anything to say.”

Regardless of how the UFC chooses to proceed with the next Belfort fight, it will be a matter which will come under immense scrutiny. Belfort – who has now contested in the Middleweight division for almost two years, will look to further his record.

The result will also be a very interesting unfolding of insights from fans and pundits alike.

“This is the truth and I think when you deal with that, you just gotta know people say things and some people will say different things, but the truth is the truth. I learn in the bible that the truth [will] set you free. I'm not running away from the media."

“Ariel Helwani got invited, just like you guys, to do a private interview. He didn't want to come. We invited him to the press conference -- he didn't want to come... I'm still in the treatment. I'm still in TRT, but I have a new version for that. You guys want to hear? It's true revival touch. Make me alive, you've got to get that!”

His last fight against Weidman saw him being cleared from the drug tests after the UFC banned TRT. A legion of Belfort fans remain eager to see what the outcome is going to be and, rest assured, the critics also will be watching closely.