CLITHEROE’S Michael Bisping has expressed his disappointment that Vitor Belfort was granted an exemption to undergo testosterone replacement therapy before his recent defeat to the Brazilian.

Bisping suffered a second round technical knockout defeat to Belfort, costing him the chance to challenge Anderson Silva for the world middleweight title.

It has since been revealed that Belfort, who tested positive for steroid use in 2006, was given a therapeutic use exemption to have testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) ahead of the Bisping bout.

Bisping has previously voiced his opposition to TRT and said in a statement: “I lost because I made a mistake and Vitor took advantage of it.

“I don’t like it, but that was the result.

“I lost. Bottom line.

“Over the past couple of years, and even right before the fight, I have made my views on TRT very, very clear.

“All I have to add, about this specific instance, is that it is very disappointing that someone who was caught cheating with testosterone in the past, now gets to use testosterone legally.

“A well known side effect of steroids is that it reduces testosterone, so I don’t understand how it would make sense to then grant someone an exemption to then increase testosterone.”

Bisping is set to return to action against Alan Belcher in New Jersey on April 27.