Rico Verhoeven Slams Ben Saddik’s Grand Prix Entry, Alleges Doping in Kickboxing

Verhoeven told HBVL that Ben Saddik should "rebuild himself and prove he deserves his place", believing that this is important for the image of the sport and for the other fighters.

The Dutchman is also critical of Ben Saddik’s alleged doping practices. "I don’t like cheaters. We all work hard to get here and we put our health at risk in the ring. If you hit harder than the other guy thanks to synthetic products, you’re playing with my health."

The kickboxing champion says he is ready to fight against Ben Saddik, but only if strict anti-doping controls are carried out. "I won’t renew my contract and won’t fight against repeat offenders if that’s not the case," he said.

After weeks of negotiations with Glory, Jamal Ben Saddik decided not to participate in the Grand Prix, claiming he was not sufficiently prepared. However, shortly after announcing his decision, he said the reason was different, without providing further explanation.