n on June 18. "We needed more

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Vitor Belfort dropped out of his upcoming UFC middleweight title shot on Thursday a few hours after the Nevada Athletic Commission banned testosterone replacement therapy. Belfort was scheduled to fight 185-pound champion Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24. His title shot was given to Lyoto Machida by UFC President Dana White. UFC 173 is the next major card in Las Vegas, the UFCs hometown. The influential Nevada commission voted unanimously on Thursday to stop granting therapeutic use exemptions for TRT, closing a widely criticized loophole that allowed mixed martial arts fighters to compete on steroids. "As other jurisdictions may follow suit, I am going to drop my TRT program and compete in MMA without it," Belfort said in a statement provided to Fox, the UFCs broadcast partner. "Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time." The 36-year-old Belfort has been open about his use of synthetic testosterone in recent years. His sanctioned steroid use has coincided with a career resurgence for the former UFC light heavyweight champion, who won three consecutive bouts by early-round knockout in 2013 while fighting in his native Brazil. Belfort claimed he needed TRT because of low testosterone, an argument which generated wide criticism because he failed a drug test for elevated testosterone in 2006 following a bout in Las Vegas for the Pride promotion against Dan Henderson, another acknowledged TRT user. Use of performance-enhancing drugs can lower the users natural testosterone levels. Belfort hadnt fought in Nevada since February 2011, before his announced TRT use began. He had intended to apply for an exemption to use synthetic testosterone before UFC 173. White and the UFC have been increasingly critical of TRT use in recent months, with White telling The Associated Press in January he supported the elimination of therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone. White hailed the Nevada commissions ruling Thursday. "We believe our athletes should compete based on their natural abilities and on an even playing field," White said. "We also intend to honour this ruling in international markets where, due to a lack of governing bodies, the UFC oversees regulatory efforts for our live events. We encourage all athletic commissions to adopt this ruling." The Nevada commission had granted therapeutic use exemptions for several fighters in recent years, including contenders Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir, but had never approved synthetic testosterone for a fighter who had failed a drug test for anabolic steroids. Machida is another former UFC light heavyweight champion from Brazil. He is getting a title shot against Weidman in just his third bout at 185 pounds after winning four of his last five fights overall. Weidman took the title from longtime UFC champion Anderson Silva last July and defended it in a rematch in December when Silva broke his leg while kicking Weidmans knee. Weidman has been critical of Belforts testosterone use, once saying Belfort "looks like the Hulk now" and hoping the UFC wouldnt schedule their bout in Brazil, where drug testing is considered much less stringent than in the U.S. PHILADELPHIA -- The cheers started when Tony Gwynn Jr. walked to the batters box, grew louder when he was introduced as a pinch-hitter and turned into a standing ovation when catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia went to the mound. On a night when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 7-4, the fans reaction to Gwynn trumped the scoreboard. Gwynn grounded out in the eighth inning Tuesday night in his first at-bat since his father, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, died last week. Though hes batting just .153 in his first season in Philadelphia, fans showed the younger Gwynn some love. "Thats why guys who play here like to play here," Gwynn said. "When things are going well, or regardless of whether theyre going bad or good, I think the fans stay behind us. Much appreciated by the Gwynn family." Saltalamacchia prolonged the ovation by purposely going to the mound, a move Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg called "classy." "I dont know what it must be like to lose a father, especially a guy who brought so much to this game," Saltalamacchia said. Marlon Byrd hit a two-run homer and David Buchanan threw five effective innings to help the Phillies snap a three-game losing streak. Buchanan (4-3) allowed two runs and six hits. The rookie right-hander struck out Marcell Ozuna on a 3-2 changeup with two runners on and two outs in the fifth, preserving a 4-2 lead. He pumped his fist and shouted as he walked off the mound. "I was pumped getting through that inning and not letting it escalate," Buchanan said. Miamis Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer off B.J. Rosenberg in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 20 tries. Andrew Heaney (0-2) gave up five runs and four hits in five-plus innings in his second career start for the Marlins. After being shut out Monday for the 10th time this season and seventh time in their last 25 home games, the Phillies jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning. Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch leading off and Chase Utley walked one out later. On a double steal, Saltalamacchias throw tto third bounced away for an error and Rollins scored to snap the teams 21-inning scoreless streak at Citizens Bank Park, dating to June 15.dddddddddddd After Ryan Howard struck out, Byrd hit a 419-foot shot out to left-centre to make it 3-0. "Hes a strong guy and he works very hard," Sandberg said. "Byrdie is one of the first at the ballpark and he prepares. He .......... to hit and hes strong. He stays in great shape and he keeps his power stroke. Hes a threat every time he comes up." Cody Asche lined a two-run double in the sixth and scored on Bryan Morris wild pitch for a 7-2 lead. Rollins had two steals to move into a tie with Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty for second place on the clubs career list with 438. Rollins finished 2 for 2 and also walked. It was his first multi-hit game since May 30, even though hes hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games, including a 15-game hitting streak. The Marlins got a run in the second when Utley dropped Ed Lucas infield fly with the bases loaded, allowing Saltalamacchia to score from third. Utley dropped another pop-up in the eighth, but it turned into a fielders choice. Ben Revere hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead in the second. After Giancarlo Stantons second double of the game put runners on second and third in the fifth, Casey McGehees sacrifice fly cut it to 4-2. NOTES: The Phillies signed OF Grady Sizemore to a minor league contract. The three-time All-Star was released by Boston on June 18. "We needed more production from our outfield," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. Sizemore is expected to join the Phillies after playing in Triple-A. ... Injured Phillies ace Cliff Lee said he felt fine after a bullpen session. Hes hoping to return before the All-Star break. ... Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria had an MRI that revealed a right triceps strain. He could land on the disabled list. ... Miami had four wild pitches, tying a club record. ... A.J. Burnett (5-6, 3.89) goes for the Phillies on Wednesday against Henderson Alvarez (4-3, 2.39). Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '