Ken Shamrock thinks that eliminating performance enhancing drugs from sports, particularly combat sports like mixed martial arts, is easier said than done.
One of the biggest stars during the early era of the UFC, Shamrock discussed the use of steroids and much more in a recent appearance on the Brown and Scoop podcast.
Shamrock described the use of PEDs as something that “has been allowed to go on for 20-plus years in the MMA world and the other sports world 50-60 years. Now all of a sudden, people are starting to act like they don’t know. Once you allow something that has gone on for so long, it doesn’t stop overnight.”
Shamrock has admitted he used PEDs as “more of a replacement therapy.
“You get over 40-something years old, your hormones are just not the same. It’s a fine line. There’s guys that abuse it and there are guys that are doing it for health reasons and for recovery reasons.”
Shamrock added that he feels eliminating PED completely from sports would set athleticism back about 20 years.
“Because the reason why all the seats are filled in all these arenas and all over the world is because of what they get to see these athletes do that is phenomenal and that won’t be the same.”
Shamrock, who wrestled extensively for WWE and TNA, discussed his series of battles with The Rock in 1998, in a feud that revolved around the Intercontinental Title.
“Working with him, I became a better wrestler because there was so much knowledge from his father, from the family, and from him that I was able to pick up through wrestling,” Shamrock said on the podcast. “His mic skills, the way he played his character, I got to learn quite a bit in that area from him by working with him. He was a tremendous talent. You see him now in the movies. He was definitely one of those gems. I got to be able to work a program with him for a year or so and that was precious times. You get opportunities like that, you have to learn. You got to be grabbing things from these people. I don’t care how good you become in anything, you always are going to learn. You should always be trying to learn. I was really blessed to have those opportunities. The Rock was definitely one of my highlights to be able to work with him in the ring and learn from him.”
