MONTREAL -- Mixed martial arts star Georges St-Pierre says the Ultimate Fighting Championships hesitant position when it came to stiffer drug testing greatly influenced his decision to take a break from the octagon. Cheap Panthers Jerseys . St-Pierre said Tuesday a lack of strenuous drug testing was one of the factors that led to his decision to step away from the sport. "It bothered me greatly, it was one of the reasons I decided to step aside," St-Pierre said Tuesday. He vacated his welterweight title and took a hiatus from the sport in December, citing a need to lead a normal life and deal with mental fatigue. The 32-year-old confirmed when asked by a reporter that his employer, the UFC, did not support him when he proposed drug testing in the weeks preceding his Nov. 16 fight against Johnny Hendricks. St-Pierre stepped away following UFC 167 where he won a controversial split decision over Hendricks. After that fight, he said he needed time away to sort out some personal issues. The star fighter was prudent in his comments Tuesday, being careful not to point fingers at any one person or fighter. He stressed he wasnt accusing anyone of steroid abuse. St-Pierre said he wanted to bring the sport he loves to "another level" of testing and help those who are honest in the sport. "I tried to change things, and unfortunately, maybe for money reasons, maybe for image, they were not ready to do that," St-Pierre said. "I tried to (bring about) change in a very diplomatic way and it didnt work so its unfortunate, but I believe it will happen sooner or later." The former welterweight champion said he hasnt made a decision to retire and added hes in top physical condition and still trains regularly. While he has remained vague about a comeback, St-Pierre says the break has made him a better fighter because hes not feeling any external pressure. He repeated he hasnt set any timetable to make a decision regarding his UFC future. St-Pierre said implementing drug testing is not a condition for any potential return to the sport. He added he could understand the reticence from the organization -- a failed drug test could dramatically change a card and result in people losing money. St-Pierre was in Montreal handing out bursaries for athletic excellence. "I feel very good, I feel very happy," St-Pierre said, appreciating a holiday season with his family and being able to have a few drinks. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys .A. Happ is coming off his first start of the year, a win at Philadelphia Monday. The former Phillie allowed three hits in five scoreless frames of a 3-0 triumph. Black Friday Panthers Jerseys . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. http://www.cheappanthersjerseys.net/ . Sixteen teams have moved on. Sixteen teams have gone home.(SportsNetwork.com) - After dropping the series opener against Tampa Bay by a score of 8-0 the night before, the Toronto Blue Jays displayed some fight on Saturday in order to tie the series at one game apiece at Rogers Centre. Sunday afternoon the Rays get a shot at redemption. The Blue Jays were embarrassed on Friday when they failed to push a single runner across the plate, but yesterday the team made up for that ineptitude when they fought back time and time again before Jose Reyes singled to left to plate Colby Rasmus with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-4 thriller. Reyes finished with two hits and two RBI, while Dioner Navarro also plated a pair thanks to his 10th home run of the campaign in the bottom of the seventh. Toronto starter Mark Buehrle wasnt around to claim the win, but he did make it through 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk. Buehrle struck out just two. Dustin McGowan was awarded the win, his fifth of the season, after giving up a hit and a walk in his one inning of action. "I felt great. It was probably the best Ive felt in a couple years," Buehrle said. "I think I got worn out there towards the end. Its been a while since I got up to the 90-pitch count, between going three and four innings, getting taken out in Chicago around 70 pitches." As for the Rays, who had a two-game win streak snapped and fell three games under .500, Wil Myers scored twice and Sean Rodriguez also scored as he accounted for a pair of hits. Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on just three hits and a walk, striking out eight. Joel Peralta was charged with the loss, even though he struck out three in 1 2/3 innings. But even before Rasmus gave the hosts the victory, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon declared his team was playing the game under protest after he felt the Blue Jays violated rule II.D of Major League Baseballs replaay review regulations. Womens Panthers Jerseys. Back in the fourth inning when Toronto manager John Gibbons challenged a safe call on a pickoff attempt at first base, which was subsequently overturned, he did so only after Buehrle was already on the rubber and Tampa Bay shortstop Yunel Escobar was in the batters box. Because the next play had officially started, the challenge should have never been allowed according to the rules. "I think its a legitimate protest," Maddon said. "Hitter in the box, pitcher on the mound, on the rubber, that locks the mechanism. It was inappropriate for (umpire) Bob (Davidson) to do what he did, permit that to happen. I trust that they are going to interpret the rule properly and get us back to that point in the game." Hoping to get Tampa Bay back into the win column, Chris Archer is set to take the mound for the Rays this afternoon, shooting for his ninth win of the season which would match his career high set last year in just his second major league campaign. The right-hander has won two straight decisions and four of the last five, although his most recent outing was met with a no-decision on Tuesday versus Detroit. Against the Tigers hitters, Archer allowed four runs -- one earned -- on five hits and five walks through 5 2/3 innings. Archer also struck out six, giving him 33 Ks in his last four outings. Although he is still in his major league infancy, Archer is already 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in six appearances against Toronto. As for the Blue Jays, they are hoping Drew Hutchison can bounce back from a minor slump that has seen him give up 13 earned runs in his last 12 2/3 innings. The right-hander was blitzed for seven runs on eight hits last weekend at the Chicago White Sox in seven innings. Hutchison surrendered two home runs and issued three walks, while striking out three. Now in just his second year in the majors, Hutchison is 2-2 with a lofty 7.78 ERA in four games versus Tampa Bay. Wholesale Falcons Jerseys Wholesale Buccaneers Jerseys Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys Wholesale Bills Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Wholesale Panthers Jerseys Wholesale Ravens Jerseys Wholesale Texans Jerseys Wholesale Patriots Jerseys Wholesale Steelers Jerseys Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys Wholesale Packers Jerseys Wholesale Browns Jerseys Wholesale Chiefs Jerseys Wholesale Colts Jerseys Wholesale Rams Jerseys ' ' '