Claudia Gadelha, the former UFC strawweight contender now leading UFC BJJ, recently made it clear that Gordon Ryan won’t be competing under the promotion’s banner.
While Ryan is widely regarded as the most successful and popular no-gi competitor in the world, Gadelha says his outspoken stance on performance-enhancing drugs is incompatible with her vision for the sport.
Here is what she had to say in a recent interview:
Yes, (testing) will come in because we want to professionalize the sport. So, it’s the best in the world against the best, right?
The best in the world against the best in the clean world.It’s not the most doped, no. No longer doped.
And Gordon (Ryan) will never compete in UFC BJJ.If you’re doped, you won’t compete. So without dope, there is no Gordon.
Her comments came after Mikey Musumeci revealed that UFC BJJ planned to implement drug testing.
Gadelha confirmed the policy and directly addressed Ryan, who has long been open about his PED use, even describing it as part of an athlete’s package:
I say this because he says so himself; he refuses to not use because he thinks it is part of an athlete’s package.
It’s his philosophy. He is very transparent about this.If he is (on PEDs), he does not compete.
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