Mica Galvao is a talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete who, at the age of 19, has already achieved a remarkable record of winning several tournaments and gold medals. In 2022, he made history by becoming the youngest IBJJF world champion ever.
However, Mica’s fans were left disappointed when he failed a PED test. IBJJF confirmed the news and stripped him of his world champion title, banning him from competing for a year.
The reason for Mica’s positive test result was the use of clomiphene. Clomiphene is commonly used to induce ovulation in infertile women who are trying to conceive. Clomiphene is also known as an ovulatory stimulant and can increase testosterone levels, providing a person with enhanced physical abilities. As a result, it is banned by USADA.
Mica’s father, who is also his coach, explained on Instagram that Mica had low testosterone levels, and he was prescribed clomiphene to reverse the situation. Mica’s low testosterone was attributed to the stress caused by hard training and the excess of commitments arranged by his manager, including high-level competitions per week.
It’s highly suspicious that a 19 year old would have low testosterone considering testosterone production peaks at 18 for males.
Mica’s father further explained that Mica had undergone several tests for almost two years, which proved that he had never had testosterone levels that would give him an unfair advantage. His low testosterone never stopped him from winning, but it was affecting his mental health and self-esteem.
Mica personally addressed the PED test failure and expressed his regret for PED test failure.
Subsequently the two published an interesting clip featuring Dr Paulo Muzy trying to explain how clomiphene was allegedly legitimately used. Muzy goes so far as to say USADA absolved Galvao of any wrong doing and instead punished him in a pedagogical manner.
A PED expert already cast doubt on the odds of Galvao legitimately being in need of clomiphene:
Tellender got down to the core of the issue asking: “Without like speculating too much, you know, what is the likelihood that a doctor is going to prescribe an 18 or 19 year old, um, uh, this?”
Derek answers: “Extremely low, extremely. Like you would almost be like a strange circumstance is sure, but even then if an 18 or 19 year old was hypogonadal, you would be looking for either lifestyle factors that are extreme that are influencing it or some sort of genetic predisposition, like a, but to a territory tumor of some sort or like actual genital failure, like, is there a problem with your actual testicles?”
