Gordon Ryan has ignited a firestorm of controversy with his recent social media post seemingly aimed at John Cena and other BJJ athletes who claim to be natural and PED-free.
In his post, Ryan shared a clip of Cena asserting during a podcast appearance that he has “never taken anything” and is “absolutely dr*g-free for life.” The clip featured Cena explaining that he gets his testosterone levels tested regularly and that, at the age of 46, his levels were still within the normal range.
Ryan’s caption, “Sounds like a lot of people in jiu jitsu,” appeared to be a thinly veiled jab at Cena’s claims of being natural, as well as a broader critique of BJJ professionals who maintain they have never used PEDs.
Ryan’s post comes amid a growing conversation within the BJJ community about the prevalence of PED use. While most major BJJ competitions do not currently penalize or strictly enforce PED policies, a growing number of athletes have begun to openly acknowledge their use of PEDs.
This shift towards transparency has been met with mixed reactions. While some applaud the honesty, others, like BJJ competitor Tarik Hopstock, have expressed concerns about the potential normalization and endorsement of PED use.
In a recent statement, Hopstock cautioned against the argument that PED use creates a level playing field, emphasizing that true fairness in competition should stem from natural skill, technique, and ability. He also highlighted the potential health risks and the precedent it sets for younger athletes.
“Even if PED usage appears to create a level playing field, it ultimately undermines fair competition and jeopardizes athletes’ health,” Hopstock stated. “Normalizing and condoning PED use sets a dangerous precedent, pressuring athletes to compromise their health and integrity.”
Ryan hadn’t really been outspoken until the end of last year, when Joe Rogan mentioned on his blockbuster podcast that Gordon was open about his use. While Rogan provided no details, it basically removed all plausible deniability from Ryan in the process.
