Gordon Ryan just can’t seem to stay out of controversy, and this time he’s picked a beef with the first family of jiu-jitsu. After Kron Gracie took shots at Ryan’s openness about PED use by comparing him to Lance Armstrong, the typically unfiltered Ryan fired back with both barrels – claiming the Gracies themselves have been using ster*ids “for like the last 5+ decades.”
The drama kicked off on Instagram when Ryan, clearly frustrated with criticism of his PED stance, went on a lengthy rant comparing his critics to “liberals” who deny basic facts. “You present facts, and they’re just like ‘no,’ lol,” Ryan posted, before dropping the bombshell allegation about the Gracie family’s own history with performance enhancers in both BJJ and MMA.
The internet, however, wasn’t buying what Ryan was selling. Comments flooded in challenging his logic, particularly his claim that ste**ids are “legal” in jiu-jitsu. As one user pointed out: “My man says something that is a Federal Crime is perfectly legal in Jiu Jitsu… Just because they don’t test doesn’t mean it’s ‘legal.'”
Others took aim at Ryan’s legacy, with one practitioner writing: “I couldn’t morally justify to myself that I won anything on ster*ids bc it wasn’t solely me and my talent. It takes away from my satisfaction and legacy.”
This latest beef comes at an interesting time for the sport, with the UFC eyeing entry into the BJJ world and questions swirling about how to handle PED testing. Ryan, who has admitted to starting PED use in 2016, notably competed and won titles in IBJJF events where such behavior was explicitly banned.
The Gracies haven’t been immune to PED controversy either – back in 2007, one family member popped for nandrolone during his MMA career. But Ryan’s broadside against the entire family marks a new chapter in this ongoing saga.
Kron Gracie responded saying:
“I’m only speaking for myself never speaking for my family, and everything I said is fact, adding liberal and my family to this just proves I’m right and you have no argument.
@gordonlovesjiujitsu_ why are you following me for years if u don’t what to hear what I say?”
What started as a debate about PEDs has evolved into something bigger: a clash between old school and new school, between jiu-jitsu’s founding family and its most provocative modern star. And if history is any indication, this won’t be the last we hear about it.
