Last year, five elite BJJ athletes suffered 3-year suspensions from competing – as a result of testing during and after 2022 No-Gi World Championships.

The news were first delivered by FloGrappling, which stated that Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Vagner Rocha, Jose Henrique Cardoso, Jonnatas Gracie, and Igor Feliz have all been suspended.

Here’s the case what happened with Cyborg:

Tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on December 20, 2022.

He accepted a three-year period of ineligibility that began on January 27, 2023, the date he was provisionally suspended from competition.

It was somewhat different with Vagner Rocha, who refused to submit a urine sample:

Vagner Rocha refused to submit to sample collection after being notified by a USADA doping control officer during an out-of-competition test on December 23, 2022.

He accepted a three-year period of ineligibility that began on January 11, 2023, the date he was provisionally suspended from competition.

And, for example, Jonnatas Gracie tested for more than “exogenous testosterone”:

Tested positive for 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), a metabolite of nandrolone and other prohibited 19-norsteroids, and exogenous testosterone and its metabolites as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at No-Gi Worlds.

He accepted a three-year period of ineligibility.

While systematic abuse is a big problem we turn to the most ridiculous answers BJJ athletes have had to positive doping results.

-Back in 2014 , Braulio Estima had a challenging year. Estima was found with the presence of Methylhexaneamine, suspended and stripped of a gold medal in the medium-heavy division. So what is Methylhexaneamine? Short answer: it’s chemically related to amphetamines. The only trouble with it is that it’s become a popular dietary supplement and is found in strength-conditioning and powder drinks so you might be actually taking it without your knowledge.

Braulio’s excuse: “After the final, I was walking around and took a drink which had the steroids in it. When I competed, I didn’t have steroids in my system. I would never take PEDS.”

–Felipe Pena also had a troubling 2014.

Felipe Pena known as ‘Preguica’ had tested positive for testosterone and accepted a one-year sanction for his doping offense:

Pena claimed that Testosterone cream is the cause. After a thorough review of the case, USADA accepted Pena’s explanation that his positive test was caused by his use of a testosterone cream provided to him by a healthcare provider.

-Way back in 2013, Gabi Garcia was found not at fault for the presence of Clomiphene and lost a gold medal in the black belt open class and a silver one in the heavyweight division. Her excuse? She was allegedly taking it as a fertility drug. At the ripe old age of 27.

Cyborg Abreu apparently had flight to catch so he couldn’t compete in the final of the No Gi world championships and do the USADA test. The problem was that USADA made him do an out of competition test, 1 month later which ended up positive…

Vagner Rocha like Cyborg, left early at the 2022 No Gi world, didn’t do his final and avoided  getting tested. When USADA came to test him, one month later, he refused to take the test…

Rocha has recently started using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT); in accordance to doctor’s suggestions.He decided to share his story of TRT use via social media:

I am about to turn 41 years old and I have been competing at the top of grappling for over a decade. I have no shame to say I am on TRT replacement for my body in accordance to a doctor.

I enjoy training hard and competing with the best level possible in the sport.

However, at the same time, Rocha also has children.
And he’s been very clear on TRT use with them, because of the serious side-effects that using PEDs can have for youth:

I have also always been very clear with my son and daughter about my use of testosterone replacement. I have also explained why I use this for me and why they should not use this at their age.

I see a lot of young athletes, talking about being clean or natty. I applaud you 20-30 year-olds that are 100% clean.
There is a serious repercussion about using steroids or other drugs at such a young age.

I recommend younger athletes to not use PEDs and I recommend all my friends above 35 to get blood work done to check your levels so they can live a healthier life.

Also, if you are younger than 35 and want to get informed about your levels, find a well respected doctor in your area & do your homework.

Rocha finishes with a simple question… And a simple answer:

Many athletes are on PEDs but how many own up to it and how many really need it?

A lot of people have the misconception that if you take PEDs you automatically will become good in Jiu-Jitsu. But there are a lot of people out there who take PEDs and aren’t world champions.

PEDs don’t magically make you good at Jiu-Jitsu, they only work if you do.

In 2019, IBJJF world champion Kaynan Duarte of Team Atos had failed a PED test after the 2019 Worlds. He received a 1 year suspension:

Kaynan Duarte responded wit the following statement on his instagram:

After fully investigating my case, USADA agreed that my positive test was for trace amounts of the banned substance ostarine, and that it was not the result of intentional use. It is for that reason that USADA agreed to reduce my sanction from four years to one year. Before I was notified of my positive test, I did not even know what ostarine was. I have always taken special care to only use safe supplements; unfortunately, despite being careful, I was still exposed to trace amounts of ostarine in the months leading up to the World Championships. Even though this was an accident, I know that I am ultimately responsible for everything that goes into my body. I would like to apologize to my family, friends, coaches, sponsors and fans, and also thank them for their support during what has been a difficult time away from the sport. I continue to focus on training and staying in shape, and look forward to my return to IBJJF competition after this year’s World Championships.

MMA excuses:

Frank Mir blamed Kangoroo meat for testing postive for Testosterone (Transcript Bloody Elbow):

“I couldn’t tell you a single restaurant I remember eating at. I even remember calling James and saying ‘do you remember where we ate?’ I had to write down all of the places we went. And even if I could figure it out; let’s say someone could document where I went. You’re telling me USADA are gonna go down, and, on my behalf, try to test all the different meats to see if, well, you know, kanagaroos are wild and this guy wanted to beef em’ up so he bought something that was very abudnant – in the study that I did – oral turinabol could be bought in powdered form.

3. After an intense fight against Josh Burkman at UFC 182, Hector Lombard failed his post-fight drug test. His story involves being peer pressured, while having the flue, into taking mystery pills. Lombard was quite dedicated to this version of the story and even ended up submitting texts from the woman in question regarding mystery pills.

2. Chael Sonnen pleaded ignorance to a blood testosterone level 400 times larger than the legal limit several years back. He might as well have said he never noticed anything. He later claimed he suffered from hypogonadism and got a slap on the wrist with his 2500$ fine and a 6 month suspension. Lucky for him that was prior to UFC partnership with USADA

1.Anderson Silva blamed his failed PED test on an elaborate story involving Secret Thailand Sexual aid. Namely, Silva entrusted a training partner of his with his feeling regarding inadequacies in the bedroom. Afterwards they both decided that the best way to deal with those shortcomings would be to take a mystery substance obtained on the streets of Thailand. While partner in crime obtained the substance, Silva injested it and subsequently got suspended for a year. Words still out on how the mystery substance fares in the bedroom…