A respected exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel has come to the defense of WWE superstar John Cena following viral controversy surrounding his statements about PEDs.
The discussion was reignited after Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Gordon Ryan shared a clip of Cena on a podcast where the wrestling star maintained he has “never taken anything” and is “absolutely dr*g-free for life.” In the footage, Cena explained that he regularly tests his testosterone levels, which remain within normal range at age 46.
In a separate clip, Cena is asked point blank by Howard Stern:
Stern: You never juiced?
Cena: Yeah, absolutely.
I started working out when I was 12 years old.
The exercise scientist, addressing the situation in a viral video, offered a nuanced perspective on why public figures might feel compelled to deny PED use.
” So I’m going to cut you guys the real deal on that whole juicing thing. When people ask you to admit to a federal offense on live television, the moral thing to do becomes to lie about it. This is something that I would call an unbecoming question from someone who just doesn’t know the legal and ethical landscape involved. I mean, or a totally innocent mistake, but you generally just don’t ask people that sort of thing because they’d be admitting to a crime.”
“Yes, John Cena’s on ster*ids. Everybody in the WWE is on ster*ids, but for maybe one person ever or something. When you get that big and that strong and that jacked and that lean at the same time, almost certainly anabolics are involved. And John’s going to lie about it, as well he should.”
Interestingly, Gordon Ryan has come under fire recently for openly admitting to PED use for the first time. Musumeci criticized PED use in the sport during the UFC 311 press conference, accusing figures like Ryan and Craig Jones of lacking martial arts values. Ryan, never one to back down, hit back fiercely on social media, questioning Musumeci’s integrity and loyalty while defending his own use of PEDs, claiming they are legal in most competitions outside the IBJJF. This feud has sparked a wider debate in the BJJ community about PED use, professionalism, and ethics in the sport.
The controversy has sparked broader discussions within the athletic community about transparency regarding PED use.
The scientist’s defense of Cena comes at a time when the conversation around PEDs in professional sports has become increasingly complex, with some athletes choosing transparency while others maintain their natural status.
In the United States, ster*ids are classified as controlled under the Anabolic Ster*id Control Act of 1990, meaning they are illegal to use without a prescription. They are primarily prescribed to treat conditions, such as hormone deficiencies or muscle-wasting diseases. However, the use of anabolic ster*ids for performance enhancement or bodybuilding purposes is illegal without a prescription. Possession, distribution, or trafficking of ster*ids without a prescription can result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
