Dillashaw: ‘I would’ve been able to justify’ EPO use if I didn’t get caught

T.J. Dillashaw had always been rueful about his PED use that ultimately took out two years from his fighting career. But in a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the former bantamweight champion admitted that he would’ve found reasons to justify his actions.

“I probably shouldn’t have just taken the fight, to be honest. Actually, I know I shouldn’t have taken the fight,” he said.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, just like I’ve been with everything. I would’ve done the same. I probably would’ve said, like, ‘I had to do it.’ Like, something my body wasn’t letting me do, like I wouldn’t be able to make the weight.

“I would’ve made that excuse to myself,” he added. “And I felt like I would’ve been able to justify it, how f—ked up that is. But let’s be honest.”

The 34-year-old Dillashaw will be eligible to compete in a little over a month’s time. He’s been off the juice since his previous failure, which he says has done him a lot better.

“To be honest, my body now is at a better level than it ever was when I was taking a performance enhancing drug,” he said. “I became completely anemic to where I brought my body to somewhat average. To where now, my body’s even performing better that it was on it.

“Yes, I did take something I wasn’t supposed to. And if I went and saw a doctor, he would’ve prescribed it to me, but it doesn’t give me the excuse to take it. I’m a professional athlete, I know I wasn’t allowed to take it.”

Dillashaw will likely be back at bantamweight after that unsuccessful attempt at 125 pounds. He expects to fight for the title upon his return.