'Cro Cop' says he retired because of injuries, admits to using growth hormones

Shortly after he announced his retirement from MMA, it was revealed that Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic was the first UFC fighter to be flagged for a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation since the USADA took over the promotion's drug testing.

According to Filipovic, his retirement was necessitated by a shoulder injury and not by the USADA, but he did admit on his official website he was taking growth hormones in order to speed up his recovery when simple rest, icing, and therapy just wasn't cutting it.

From Filipovic's statement:

When my shoulder problems started, basic methods like massages and icing the shoulder did not help. Then I went to blood plasma which went straight into my shoulder. With each blood plasma, I had a little mix of growth hormone to make my shoulder heal faster.

Growth hormones are on the list of banned substances. I knew that already. But there was no other way to save my shoulder - at least in my mind - without combining the blood plasma with growth hormones.

Unfortunately it turns out the only cure was a good break and rest. But a desperate man will try anything.

After 6 days of growth hormone and plasma injections, the USADA came to test me. I gave them my blood sample and urine samples and immediately told the UFC about the test. I also said that I had been taking blood plasma and growth hormone since nothing else was working.

I wanted to have this fight, at any cost. I knew if I didn't have the fight after an 8 month layoff, it was the end for me. I could not afford to wait 5 or 6 more months to fight.

Before his retirement and potential Anti-Doping Policy violation, the 41-year-old PRIDE legend was scheduled to face Anthony Hamilton at UFC Fight Night 79 on Nov. 28. With the bout officially canceled, Hamilton will be booked on a different card in the future.

- With h/t to MMAjunkie.com