For Mikey Musumeci the harsh truth about PED use in his beloved sport hit home at a young age. As a child, Musumeci idolized many top competitors, but he soon realized that his heroes were not achieving their success through hard work and dedication alone.
“When I was a kid, I really didn’t believe you could win worlds without ster*ids,” Musumeci admitted in a candid conversation with Brendan Schaub. “Because all the people I looked up to took so much [ster*ids].”
This jarring realization forced Musumeci to confront the uncomfortable reality that the athletes he admired were gaining an unfair advantage through illicit means. However, rather than becoming disillusioned, Musumeci drew inspiration from the legendary wrestler Dan Gable’s mentality.
“I knew if I just worked harder than them, like, I could beat them all,” Musumeci said, recognizing that while his idols were physically enhanced, he could overcome them through sheer mental fortitude and an unwavering commitment to his craft.
As Musumeci’s career progressed and he ascended to the upper echelons of the sport, he found himself surrounded by a culture where PED use had become so pervasive that being a clean athlete was almost seen as a disadvantage.
“Now in jiu-jitsu, everyone’s on ster*ids so much. That they made it the norm. So they look at you, like, you’re, like, a bad guy,” Musumeci lamented.
This harsh reality placed Musumeci at a crossroads: remain silent and conform to the status quo, or use his platform to speak out against the scourge of PEDs and strive to effect positive change in the sport he loves.
“I’m in a position in my life where God gave me the opportunity to – He’s testing me. Like, do I say something? Do I stay quiet? It’s easier to stay quiet. Right? Just be friends with everyone. Or do I stay vocal and speak out about it and try to make a difference?” Musumeci pondered.
For Musumeci, the choice was clear. As one of the most talented and accomplished athletes in the sport, he recognized his responsibility to be a voice of reason and integrity, even if it meant swimming against the current of a culture that had become desensitized to the dangers and ethical implications of PED use.
