Bo Nickal is notably engaged in the realm of college wrestling. The UFC star remains involved with the sport, and his views consistently spark discussion within the community. In the wake of a triumphant NCAA Championships, he took the opportunity to confront the recent steroid allegations linked to Penn State. But where did these rumors originate?

At the NCAA Championships, Cornell’s Meyer Shapiro expressed his perspective, saying, “I could be a 49-pounder if all I wanted to be, you know. Some guys, you know, they’re taking steroids and they’re not taking steroids, you know, wink wink. It’s just crazy, you know.” These assertions emerged amidst the NCAA Championships. Are you aware that he competed against Penn State’s Tyler Kasak and lost the match? This raised significant doubts regarding Penn State.

Nonetheless, as seen on Bo Nickal’s YouTube channel, he responded to these allegations, expressing his perspective: “I mean, I’m sure that there are some people doing steroids, but the reality is like we’re d— tested quite a bit, and I think that more than anything it’s just like pretty classless to make that claim without any evidence. He made the claim, and he wasn’t man enough to like actually name names. He just said, like, ‘I just know people are on steroids.’ It’s like, bro, are you all right? You’re going to say that after you just lost like, you just sound like a baby. And then a couple of people, a couple of Iowa guys, like, chimed in after that and were like, ‘Oh.’ And it’s like, dude, the reality of the situation is like when you’re not good enough to win, you make excuses, right?”

To put it plainly, the UFC star was not accepting it. As a Penn State graduate, he possesses a keen understanding of the processes that every wrestler experiences, regardless of their university affiliation. These stringent regulations also apply to the wrestlers at Penn State. Nickal directly criticized Shapiro for assertions that lack substantiated evidence. He even criticized the wrestler from Cornell for not naming the person he was accusing of using steroids.

Additionally, Nickal recognized how certain Iowa Hawkeyes wrestlers attempted to stoke this controversy on social media. “A lot of people that are weak-minded do that, and uh, I think that it’s just that it’s being weak-minded. It’s being jealous. Like, the only person that’s actually competing against guys on steroids is probably me because all these fighters are actually on steroids, right? But uh, no, I don’t think anybody—nobody in the top level of the NCAA—is doing steroids. Like they’re just getting tested too much, and there’s too big of a risk,” stated Nickal.

The UFC icon expressed a strong belief that the allegations might stem from jealousy, given the ongoing achievements of Penn State in the realm of college wrestling. Additionally, as a former collegiate wrestler, he can attest that cheating and the use of steroids in competitions such as the NCAA are highly unlikely due to the numerous tests that college wrestlers are subjected to. However, are you aware that, similar to Nickal, another former Penn State athlete also dismissed these allegations regarding the Nittany Lions?

Defending Penn State just like Bo Nickal

Penn State wrestling alum Matt McCutcheon expressed his views on the steroid allegations, remarking, “Ah classic, the old can’t beat them or figure out how to compete with them the last 12 out of 14 years. Might as well go with steroids.” McCutcheon recognizes the university’s achievements in the realm of college wrestling. He emphasized the continuous accomplishments of Penn State.

This year, they clinched their 13th NCAA team title, representing the 12th triumph under the guidance of coach Cael Sanderson, and it stands as just one among their numerous accomplishments. The Nittany Lions achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 177.0 points, establishing a new tournament record. They also became only the second team in NCAA Division I history to boast 10 All-Americans in a single tournament.

Senior Carter Starocci has etched his name in the annals of wrestling history, becoming the inaugural athlete to secure five national titles, a remarkable achievement in the 184-pound weight class. Furthermore, Mitchell Mesenbrink secured an individual title in the 165 lbs division, while Josh Barr earned the distinction of national runner-up in the 197 lbs division. These achievements highlight Penn State’s steadfast dedication to the pinnacle of wrestling performance. ​