Gordon Ryan recently attempted to justify his use of PEDs through a series of arguments that reveal significant logical fallacies and potential health risks. While presenting himself as transparent, Ryan’s narrative ultimately undermines the very points he tries to make.
Contradictory Reasoning
Ryan claims he could have been successful without ster*ids, citing his early career achievements where he submitted world-class athletes while competing naturally. However, he simultaneously argues that PEDs are necessary to become the “best athlete you can be.” This circular logic exposes a fundamental contradiction: if he was already successful without PEDs, why does he now insist they’re essential?
“I don’t believe that you need ste*oids to be the best in the world… I was submitting ADCC champions of medalists way before I was ever on ste*oids while I was natural”
Yet also says: “you simply cannot be… the best athlete that you could possibly be unless you take ste*oids”
Downplaying Health Risks
Perhaps most concerning is Ryan’s cavalier approach to potential health consequences. He dismisses long-term health risks with anecdotal evidence, pointing to Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example of someone who used steroids extensively and lived to an older age. This approach dangerously oversimplifies the complex medical risks associated with PEDs.
“I would rather die with a legacy at 50 years old than just be a normal guy dying at 70 or 80 years old”
“Arnold’s 80 years old that guy did way more st*roids than I did and that guy’s fine… tons of people who’ never done st*roids have heart attacks at 35 40 years old”
The Moral Gymnastics of “Legality”
Ryan repeatedly justifies his PED use by arguing that they were “legal” in his sport, drawing parallels to legal techniques like leg locks or arm bars. This reasoning is fundamentally flawed. Just because something is technically permitted doesn’t make it ethical or safe. Medical professionals consistently warn about the severe health implications of non-prescribed st*roid use.
“ste*oids are legal in Jiu-Jitsu just like they’re legal in bodybuilding… ste*oids are legal so why wouldn’t you use ste*oids”
“if an arm bar is legal I’m going to use an arm bar if leg locks are legal I’m going to use leg locks”
Selective Outrage: A Glaring Double Standard
Perhaps the most striking hypocrisy in Ryan’s narrative emerges when contrasting his vehement criticism of Lia Thomas with his own performance enhancement practices. Ryan publicly condemned Thomas, a transgender swimmer, with inflammatory rhetoric, claiming that competing with physiological advantages is fundamentally unfair. He argued passionately that biological differences create an insurmountable competitive advantage.
Yet, Ryan’s own use of PEDs directly contradicts this stance. By using exogenous hormones and ste*oids to artificially enhance his physical capabilities, he is effectively doing precisely what he criticized Thomas for – gaining a competitive advantage through biochemical modification.
In his own words against Thomas, Ryan stated: “If you were born a dude, call yourself whatever makes you happy, but at the end of the day, you’re a dude, period.” One could easily apply this same logic to his PED use: “If you were born with natural testosterone levels, call yourself an athlete, but at the end of the day, you’re competing with artificially enhanced capabilities.”
Ryan’s stance reveals a profound cognitive dissonance. He vehemently opposes what he perceives as an unfair physiological advantage in one context while simultaneously and deliberately creating such an advantage in his own sporting arena.
Ignoring the Broader Implications
While Ryan presents himself as uniquely honest about PED use, he glosses over the systemic issues this creates in competitive sports. His argument that “athletes will always use ster**ds” is not a solution but an abdication of personal and professional responsibility.
“athletes are always going to use steroids… the industry for beating st*roid tests is a multi-billion dollar operation”
“I wouldn’t regret doing the things that I’ve done to become the greatest of all time in this sport even if it were to take 20 years off of my life”
Health Risks Cannot Be Ignored
Despite Ryan’s dismissive stance, medical research has consistently demonstrated significant health risks associated with non-prescribed use, including:
- Cardiovascular complications
- Liver damage
- Hormonal imbalances
- Increased risk of certain cancers
- Psychological effects
