The simmering debate over PEDs in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu boiled over this week when Kron Gracie took aim at Gordon Ryan‘s controversial stance on PED use in the sport.
Gracie, a member of BJJ’s most storied family, fired back at Ryan’s recent claim that “ster*ids are legal in jiu-jitsu,” sharing a pointed message alongside Ryan’s viral admission. The Gracie heir’s response drew a stark parallel to cycling’s most infamous scandal, warning that BJJ risks following the same dark path that led to Lance Armstrong‘s devastating fall from grace.
“It’s illegal in every sport, only in Jiujitsu and MMA people look past this and think it’s ok?!” Gracie wrote, challenging Ryan’s assertion that PEDs are only banned in IBJJF competitions. “Lance Armstrong lost everything and he’s just riding bikes.”
The exchange has ripped open the sport’s worst-kept secret – the widespread use of performance enhancers at its highest levels. Ryan, BJJ’s most dominant and outspoken competitor, recently admitted to starting PED use in 2016, defending his choice by pointing to the sport’s fractured testing landscape. While the IBJJF implements testing, many major competitions operate without such restrictions. It’s worth noting that Ryan did compete in IBJJF several times even though they test. He won Nogi Pans and Nogi Worlds in the same year. IBJJF subsequently implemented testing at Nogi Worlds as well.
“The only place they’re not legal is in IBJJF where they started testing after I had won the Worlds,” Ryan claimed in the clip shared by Gracie. “I won the No Gi Worlds and they’re like, man, we have to make sure Gordon doesn’t win again. So then they started testing.”
The clash between these two BJJ stars reflects a deeper identity crisis within the sport. The community remains divided over how to handle PED use. Gracie‘s invocation of the Armstrong scandal serves as a warning shot – a reminder of how unchecked PED use can eventually unravel a sport’s legitimacy.
For now, the debate rages on, with Ryan‘s dominance and openness about PED use forcing the BJJ world to confront uncomfortable questions about its future. Considering UFC is about to enter the sport in a big way, many are advocating for them to clean it up. But there’s a major caveat right there. UFC cleaned up MMA thanks to their expensive deal with USADA – a deal they severed in the fall out from Conor McGregor retiring and unretiring from the competition pool in the light of his catastrophic leg break. UFC’s current partner is much less reputable when it comes to testing – it’s DFSI the same organization used by ONE FC and other major sports organizations. Funnily enough, the man who made his career exposing Lance Armstrong, Jeff Novitzky, is employed at the UFC and overseeing the program.
Lance Armstrong suffered devastating financial losses following his 2012 PED scandal, losing approximately $150 million in endorsements as major sponsors like Nike, Trek, and Oakley severed ties. He faced significant legal consequences, including a $5 million settlement with the U.S. government over claims of defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, a $10 million payout to SCA Promotions for bonuses tied to his now-discredited Tour de France victories, and $1.65 million in legal fees to Floyd Landis, who filed the whistleblower case. Stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from professional cycling, Armstrong’s net worth, once estimated at over $125 million, plummeted.
Gordon Ryan’s recent defense of his PED use reveals numerous contradictions and oversimplifications, undermining his arguments. He claims that while he could have been successful without ster*ids early in his career, they are now necessary to reach his full athletic potential, presenting a contradictory stance.
Ryan downplays the significant health risks of PEDs, citing anecdotal examples like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s long life, which oversimplifies the dangers of steroid use. He also justifies his use by pointing to the legality of PEDs in his sport, equating it with other legal techniques, though legality does not equate to ethics or safety.
Furthermore, his criticism of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for leveraging biological advantages starkly contrasts with his own use of PEDs, which similarly enhance his physical capabilities. Ryan’s arguments ignore broader issues in competitive sports, such as the systemic prevalence of PED use, and the serious health risks tied to their use, including cardiovascular and liver damage, hormonal imbalances, and psychological effects.
