UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has taken a firm stance against the use of PEDs in competitive mixed martial arts. He expressed his arguments about why clean competition is essential for the sport’s integrity.
During a recent interview on the podcast with Demetrious Johnson, Volkanovski expressed his strong opposition to PED use. He particularly criticized the practice of competitors temporarily leaving the testing pool for “therapeutic” purposes.
“I’m a major against it,” Volkanovski stated. “What I hate about it is because you hear people defend it like, ‘Oh yeah, who cares? Doesn’t make that much of a difference.’ Like especially like I’ve never been the most athletic guy, right? But I’ve always been strong and fit.”
The Australian champion highlighted how PED use creates an unfair advantage that undermines the hard work of clean athletes. He explained that competitors who might naturally be more athletic but lack certain physical attributes can suddenly overcome their weaknesses through chemical enhancement.
“So now these guys that are say they’re just they can run 10 second whatever, you know what I mean? So they’re freakishly athletic, but they usually would gas or they’re not as strong or something like that. Now all of a sudden they can do and do that and then now things that I could have had an advantage on now they so I’m like yeah so again I hate it cuz it is hard work.”
Volkanovski emphasized that the difficulty of training and competing is what makes athletic achievement meaningful. “Some people got to do it the hard way and that’s should be the only way to do that I think anyway. So and I think most people should agree,” he argued.
The champion was particularly critical of fighters who exit the testing pool to heal from injuries while potentially using banned substances. “If people going to do that you’re telling me that they’re only doing it just to heal like I feel like I know you know I’m not don’t want to accuse but I mean if you’re doing it to help heal obviously there’s going to benefit you in so many other ways and that’s just yeah so that’s just how I am.”
Volkanovski acknowledged that he wouldn’t oppose PED use after retirement when athletes are no longer competing, but maintained that during active competition, it represents a fundamental breach of fair play. “Look again after the careers then yeah I think go ahead do it right I mean you’re not competing against anybody else.”
His stance extends beyond just following rules to encompass broader principles about mental strength and character development. Volkanovski connected PED use to his philosophy that “adversity is a privilege,” arguing that those who take shortcuts miss opportunities for genuine personal growth. “You know if you’re going to do it the easy way, you’re going to do it the easy way the rest of your life,” he warned.
For Volkanovski, the integrity of mixed martial arts depends on maintaining these standards, ensuring that victories are won through skill, preparation, and mental fortitude rather than chemical enhancement.
