Roger Gracie, seen by many as the GOAT of jiu-jitsu, has spoken out strongly against the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the sport. Despite his prominent legacy as the son of Reila Gracie (daughter of Carlos Gracie) and Mauricio Motta Gomes, and not originally bearing the Gracie surname, Roger has made significant contributions to both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu (ADCC chmapion), as well as mixed martial arts (fought in Strikeforce, UFC and was ONE FC champion).

His MMA career included a period in Strikeforce, a brief stint in the UFC where he lost his debut match to Tim Kennedy, and success in ONE FC where he won a championship. With a professional MMA record of 8 wins and 2 losses, Gracie last competed in an MMA event in 2017, displaying a physique that sparked rumors of PED use due to noticeable back acne, often linked to such substances.

The issue of PED use is a contentious one in combat sports, with different rules across organizations. In jiu-jitsu, for example, only the champion is tested at the IBJJF World Championship by USADA, while ADCC does not conduct any testing, leading to ongoing debates about fairness and the integrity of the sport. When questioned about this, Roger Gracie expressed a clear stance, emphasizing the unfair advantage that PED users have over clean athletes. He noted the significant disparity in physicality that PEDs can create, making it a serious concern in competitions.

Tatame journalist asked him:

“in the IBJJF World Championship, only the champion gets USADA tested in the ADCC there’s no testing and a lot of people say, look, the guy is pumped, he’s very strong there’s always that controversy, that discussion, some are against, others are in favor how do you see that?”

Gracie answered:

“You can’t be in favor of anabolic athletes, you know, being in favor of anabolic athletes, fighting against someone who doesn’t take anything, it’s a huge disadvantage. You can’t say you’re in favor obviously, it’s a disadvantage.” “If you fight someone with anabolic, the guy is benefiting from something that doesn’t matter how often you train, it creates an inequality. What can you do? the guys are big” “I don’t want to get into controversy, I won’t point my finger at anyone, everyone does what they want with their lives, but I’ll tell you, the guys are big. I don’t remember competing against a guy this big but anyway, each to his own. That’s it”