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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. 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. Buffalo Bills Jerseys . In his first game with Boston University, the 17-year-old Eichel picked up five assists as his Boston University Terriers thumped St. Jim Kelly Jersey . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elit...h-Bills-Jersey/. -- Aaron Rodgers isnt out for revenge in Green Bays season opener. Thurman Thomas Jersey .5 million. University officials released the term sheet signed by Harsin Wednesday, the day the former Broncos walk-on player and Boise native was named the successor to Chris Petersen, who left for Washington last week. Doug Flutie Jersey . Weise will have his hearing with the NHL head office over the phone, while the league has requested an in-person hearing with Kassian. Oilers centre Sam Gagner suffered a broken jaw after getting hit with a high stick from Kassian in Edmontons 5-2 win.TORONTO -- Chris Rudge and the Toronto Argonauts are on the clock. On Friday, the Argos and Rogers Centre announced theyve signed a lease agreement through Dec. 31, 2017. However, the deal wont be renewed past that date, meaning the CFL club must find a new home field in time for the 2018 season. Or sooner. The Argos have the option to terminate the deal earlier if they want. "Yes, theres a deadline but its not an unreasonable deadline," said Rudge, the Argos president and chief executive officer. "We could take a year to make the decision (regarding a new home) and two years to put it up and still be in good shape while also having the option to move out early. "While we dont have any definitive plans we could share with anybody yet, its our hope within six months to a year there will be something thats clearly definitive." Paul Beeston, the president and CEO of Rogers Centre and baseballs Toronto Blue Jays, didnt immediately return a telephone message Friday. But in a statement, Beeston said the agreement helps both parties. "The length of the deal allows the Argonauts a reasonable period of time to pursue other stadium options while allowing us sufficient time to plan the logistics of various stadium improvements including the installation of a grass playing surface for baseball at Rogers Centre," he said. If it takes until 2018 for the Argos to land a new home, they could be christening the new digs under new ownership. Senator David Braley, 72, who owns the Toronto franchise as well as the B.C. Lions, said he plans to sell one or both the clubs by the time he turns 75. "I do not anticipate owning two football franchises by the time Im age 75," Braley said Friday, adding if hes still healthy hed be open to keeping one of the teams three years from now. Of the two franchises, Braley would not only have an infinitely easier time selling the Lions but hed get a better price for the club. B.C. is a perennial contender on the field, has solid attendance and corporate sponsorship and is on sound financial footing. The Argos (7-4), despite being defending Grey Cup champions and currently atop the East Division, are only averaging 21,300 spectators per game at Rogers Centre and have long been losing money. However, Braley said hes talking with four communities -- he wouldnt identify them -- about the possibility of building a new stadium that would be home for the CFL club. Fridays announcement wasnt surprising as Rogers Centre informed the Argos over a year ago it was looking into installing a natural grass field that couldnt be reconfigured for football. The new agreement not only paves the way for Rogers Centre to make the switch to natural grass but ends years of speculation regarding the Argos future at the domed stadium. The Blue Jays are just one of two teams in the majors not playing on grass and the organization feels it must make the switch to continue being able to attract top talent. New facilities are the trend in the CFL these days. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in their first season at Investors Group Field while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will move into a new venue next year. The expansion Ottawa Redblacks are slated to return to the CFL in 2014 in a remodelled Frank Clair Stadium while in 17 the Saskatchewan Roughriders are scheduled to move into a new open-air building to replace Mosaic Stadium. The Argos have called Rogers Centre home since 89 when it opened as the former SkyDome. Playing in a dome certainly offered CFL fans protection in inclement weather but there has always been criticism over the lack of atmosphere in the facility, especially with the roof closed. Rogers Centre has a capacity of 50,000-plus fans for football and rocks when its full. Trouble is, Rogers Centre can be cavernous when the fans dont come out. "Its no secret many people would say the greatest impediment to us being more successful in drawing bigger crowds is the nature of that stadium," Rudge said.dddddddddddd "Its not as intimate as football fans would like and were probably better off trying to find a better place." Although the Jays and Argos have co-existed at Rogers Centre for years, its often been a struggle for the CFL team to draw a favourable home schedule there. Rogers Communications Inc. owns both the Jays and building so often baseball takes priority. With the Hamilton Tiger-Cats new stadium under construction, there was an opportunity for Toronto to host their arch rivals in their annual Labour Day showdown. But the Blue Jays were at home that weekend so the stadium couldnt be reconfigured in time and the Argos ended up playing a rare Tuesday night game the day after Labour Day. And with Rogers Centre being a multi-purpose venue, the Argos also faced competition from outside sources for their home dates. The Argos most logical option is BMO Field, home to Major League Soccers Toronto FC. The outdoor venue has a seating capacity of roughly 22,500 for soccer but can handle up to 28,000 for special events like concerts and provides an intimate setting. But there are still challenges there. Reconfiguring BMO Field would be an issue because its not designed to accommodate a Canadian football field, which is 150 yards long (including two 20-yard end zones) and 65 yards wide. Toronto FCs loyal fans have also made it clear they dont want to share their grass field with a CFL club. But Toronto FCs owners are looking at whether BMO Field can be refitted for football. Tim Lieweke, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, has said the organization is examining all options to improve the facility -- including the addition of a roof -- but no changes will be made that negatively impact the soccer fans experience. There are also concerns a football team playing at BMO Field would cause serious damage to the playing surface, though the facility has hosted rugby contests without incident and the Argos have their own practice facility in Mississauga. Rudge said the Argos have talked with MLSE about BMO Field and hope to continue discussions but supported Braleys statements that the club has other options. The ideal facility would be an open-air venue with a seating capacity of 29,000 and available parking for some 10,000 vehicles while being accessible via public transit. "Its $150 million, ballpark, to do a stadium," Rudge said. "It probably requires an investment or partnership with multiple layers of government, a multi-use kind of investment in lands so you could amortize the costs of the stadium across commercial and residential investments as well that give you a better payback. "Theres also being close to GO trains, subways and major highways while being accessible to public transit and having ample parking. All of these things have to be taken into consideration." If the Argos set up shop in a new facility outside of Toronto, Rudge understands there will be those who criticize the team for leaving the downtown core. "There are others in this argument who say, Well do you want to lose the excitement of being downtown," he said. "Probably not but I can tell you I look forward to losing the lack of excitement by walking in and seeing not as many fans there as I think our product deserves. "We said a couple of years ago when I got involved here we were going to invest in the product on the field and I think weve worked hard to create a team thats giving the city some excitement. Certainly, last year we knocked it out of the park in every respect and it still hasnt resulted in what we wouldve liked to have seen in season tickets this year." ' ' '