10 Struggling MMA Fighters That Will Bounce Back

Irvin Cops to Painkiller Use


(“Indeed I did have a relationship with methadone that was not appropriate.”)

In a letter received by the Nevada State Athletic Commission yesterday, James Irvin admitted using methadone and oxymorphone prior to his July 19th beatdown at the hands of Anderson Silva; Irvin had tested positive for the heavy-duty painkillers in a post-fight piss-test. As the Sandman wrote:

“In the days leading up to my fight with Anderson Silva, I experienced some residual pain in my foot from a previous injury. I made the extremely poor choice to take some pain medications that I did not have a prescription for. I realize this was an ignorant and dangerous decision.”

Irvin, who tore his ACL and MCL during a fight with Thiago Silva at UFC 71 in May 2007, also broke his foot earlier this year while preparing for a scheduled fight against Rashad Evans, which was to go down at UFC 85. According to Sherdog, Irvin accepted the Anderson Silva fight only days after re-entering the gym following his recovery period from the foot injury. Irvin has been temporarily suspended by the NSAC pending a disciplinary hearing, and likely faces a longer suspension and a fine.

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Anonymous- August 19, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Actually the NYTimes just had an article on methadone - apparently doctors are prescribing it more frequently these days as a painkiller, because it is powerful and much cheaper than other painkillers like oxycodone (for instance).
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Markdog- August 19, 2008 at 12:55 pm
That's kind of what I was thinking. My friends dad, when I used to hang around with my friend, had a huge heroine addiction and it was common for me to see him take methadone. I thought it was mainly used to fight heroine addictions, and not to treat pain. I thought Vicodins and stuff like that was for pain. Is Irvin a tecato?
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fightfan- August 18, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Give him the nod for standing up and telling the truth....But I think there is more of a problem. Sure you take pain killers for pain relief. but if you take methadone, in addition toother pain killers, there is most liely a deeper problem.

Methadone is a pain killer, but is MOSTLY used for opiate addiciton(ie heroin and pain killer addiciton). One of the reasons Methadone is used for people addicted to pain killers is the fact that when methadone is taken it is IMPOSSIBLE to feel the effects of any other pain killer(opiate). If you take methadone, it is impossible to get "high" or even feel any effect from any other pain killer

So If James had BOTH methadone and otehr pain killers in his system, he may haev other problems, like addiciton to opiates or pain killers
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BigMar- August 18, 2008 at 4:17 pm
no prob
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Geriatric Peon- August 18, 2008 at 2:18 pm
pain killers are a part of life for fighters as it is bound to bring them considerable pain. I hope Irvin gets past his methadone problem. Testing positive for 'roids is a lot less forgivable in my eyes. They need to test across the board for events the size of a UFC event and get these guys to come clean like this.
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Eric- August 18, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I kind of feel for guys like Franca and Irvin...if they are telling the truth. They are offered main events and huge fights...what happens if they get hurt? I wonder what Dana would rather have, a guy getting suspended for 'roids or pain killers, or his main event put in jeopardy 2 weeks out. Kind of makes you a little sympathetic towards these fighters.
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Anonymous- August 18, 2008 at 12:46 pm
atleast he man'd up to it, instead of beating around the bush for a couple of months.
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ben- August 18, 2008 at 12:38 pm
@ BigMar:

Damn it all...thanks for the catch, it's fixed now.
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Mardog- August 18, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Good eye. BTW, I hate the fucking Harley Davidson pop up on the UFC website. Alright, Harley Davidson is the only motorcycle fit for the Octagon, we get it!
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BigMar- August 18, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Wrong Thiago
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Markdog- August 18, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Maybe The Sandman knew what he had coming and just wanted to be prepared. Or maybe Andy is just too big, like John's theory.
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