Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star Mikey Musumeci has voiced serious concerns about the rising prevalence of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use among young athletes in the sport. In a recent interview, Musumeci claimed that some of the largest BJJ teams worldwide are allegedly encouraging the use of steroids among kids as young as 12 and 13 years old.

“There are kids’ programs run by some of the biggest teams in the world, and they have these young athletes taking steroids,” Musumeci stated. “People know about it, but they choose to turn a blind eye.” This troubling allegation sheds light on what Musumeci perceives as a toxic culture of PED use in the sport, particularly among impressionable youth. The grappling star expressed frustration with the lack of accountability and the complicity of those who remain silent on the issue.

Last year, teenage BJJ phenom Mica Galvão had failed an anti-doping test made during the IBJJF World Championships. According to the release, the USADA had determined Mica’s positive test was caused by clomiphene, a prohibited substance and after investigation, by a prescription drug under the care of a physician. And although the substance was taken medically, they should have asked for an exemption for therapeutic use, which was not.

Dr Rehan Muttalib is a high level BJJ black belt & active competitor (multiple times IBJJF champion at all belt levels). As a practicing medical doctor, he shared his views on the Mica Galvao case on his facebook stories:

Let’s me clarify this from the point of view of an ethical doctor because I don’t think the Jiu-Jitsu community realises the full extent of this situation. I’m not coming at Mica. It’s not his fault. He’s still just a kid. It’s more the people around him. If Mica and his father had walked into my office, and told me that he had taken steroids from a young age and that his testosterone was low and they needed Clomid to start back his testosterone production, the answer would be No. This is much worse than Cyborg and Vagner Rocha as grown men taking steroids to compete at the elite level. This is a kid. This means that he was probably already was taking steroids at 15 or 16. This is pretty much child abuse.

Musumeci also pointed out that while other combat sports, like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), have made progress in combating PEDs through stricter testing protocols, BJJ remains largely unregulated. He praised organizations such as USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for their efforts in maintaining integrity in MMA. However, he argued that the same level of oversight is sorely lacking in jiu-jitsu, creating an environment where cheating is tolerated.

Reflecting on the culture within BJJ, Musumeci criticized the hypocrisy he has witnessed, calling out members of the community who claim to value respect and discipline while quietly supporting or ignoring PED use. “There’s so much support for all the wrong things in the jiu-jitsu community,” he said, highlighting what he views as a growing problem that is being overlooked by many prominent figures in the sport.

Musumeci’s statements are a wake-up call to the BJJ world, urging the community to take a stand against unethical practices and protect the integrity of the sport—particularly for the young athletes who look up to their coaches and teams. As the sport grows in popularity and continues to expand globally, addressing the issue of PED use and ensuring a clean, fair competition should be at the forefront of the conversation.