“You Don’t Need to Take Shortcuts to Be a Champion” – Mikey Musumeci Lauded ONE Championship’s Endeavor to Eradicate PED Usage in Martial Arts

ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci has made it a mission to set an example for “cleaner” combat sports, and he believes he is in the right organization to pursue that goal. On his Instagram page this week, “Darth Rigatoni” shared a letter from ONE Championship informing him that he tested negative for any substances found on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited and banned substances list. 

According to the post, the test was done after the American superstar’s latest win at ONE Fight Night 10 earlier this month. The letter thanked him for his “cooperation and efforts to uphold the integrity of the sport,” and he reciprocated that appreciation via his social media account.

Mikey Musumeci fired at athletes using PEDs and lauded ONE Championship

“I want to thank @onechampionship @yodchatri for testing athletes for steroids and PEDS. Unfortunately, the past and the current generation of jiu-jitsu is ridiculous with the amount of steroids involved, but luckily ONE is capable of changing the landscape of jiu-jitsu with this testing,” the 26-year-old said in his post. 

“Every match I am a part of I have requested myself and my opponent to have PED testing to help this cause. Remember if you hear people say the Whole vs Part flaw from formal logic, ‘everyone is doing them, so I should as well, and therefore I am not cheating,’ realize you don’t need to inject a needle in your bu*t to be a champion, you don’t need to take shortcuts to be a champion, get a stronger mind and better jiu-jitsu and make it happen.”

Noted BJJ stars Tye and Kade Ruotolo also advocated for Mikey Musumeci’s appeal

The use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions has been a highly contentious topic in the sport, as there are no clear guidelines or restrictions. However, Musumeci has always advocated for competing “natural” and proving that putting in the work will allow skills to flourish over temporary enhancement.

Since joining ONE Championship, the Evolve MMA representative has subjected himself to the same drug-testing guidelines as all athletes who compete in the promotion. He has won all four of his matches, and has tested negative for banned substances each time.

READ MORE – What’s Next for Demetrious Johnson, and the Other Two Enticing Winners at ONE Fight Night 10?

The fact that grappling phenoms Tye and Kade Ruotolo, who also advocate for the same policies within submission grapppling, are competing in the same organization only reinforces the notion that Musumeci is right where he needs to be.