Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be banned by Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSCA), but it continues to make headlines for select Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) athletes. Particularly the ones who struggle to perform after scrapping the controversial treatment.

UFC hall-of-famer Forrest Griffin feels their pain.

The original "Ultimate Fighter" was granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for his Tito Ortiz fight back in July 2012, knowing full well the risks associated with TRT. For Griffin, is was a price worth paying to be good at mixed martial arts (MMA).

From his conversation with Boston Herald:

"I did it, I think it's great. When it started, I had two problems with steroids. One, they're illegal and I'm doing illegal drugs. And, two, you're telling kids, fans, young people that watch the sport you have to do drugs to do this. Well, that's not true. The best guys don't do drugs. Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, (Georges St. Pierre), these guys don't use drugs, they're naturally athletic. The best guys in any sport don't use drugs. It's the guys on the second tier trying to get to the first tier that use drugs. I mean, I knew what I was doing. I knew that what I was doing is bad for my body in the long run, potentially, and I was doing what the doctor gave me, so it wasn't crazy. But I mean, you now, there's a chance (you can) enlarge your heart, enlarge your prostate, lose your prostate, not be able to (perform sexually) after 50. So I took that into advisement in doing that. But to me, being a better fighter was worth it. It was worth even shortening your lifespan to be good at something."

Griffin retired from active competition last May.

In addition to his TUF trophy back in 2005, Griffin (19-7) captured the promotion's light heavyweight title and holds victories over former UFC champions Quinton Jackson, Rich Franklin, Mauricio Rua, and the aforementioned Ortiz, among others.

Risk vs. Reward.