Gordon Ryan’s PED Use Ruined His Legacy!

When I first heard Gordon Ryan admit to using steroids, I was pissed.

He’s the best no-gi grappler ever, right? The “King.” And now he’s openly saying he used PEDs for a chunk of that reign?

It felt like cheating. Like all those highlight reels and gold medals were fake.

But then I listened to him talk. Not just the clips—but the full breakdown. And yeah, some things still sit weird with me. But others? They made me pause.

HERE’S WHAT HIT ME HARD

1. He Was Tapping Monsters Before PEDs: Ryan swears he was already submitting ADCC champions before ever touching steroids. Guys like Keenan. Yuri. Vagner. All while he was still “natural.” That shook me. Because the truth is… he might be right. He was that good before the PEDs.

2. He Wasn’t Hiding It: Most athletes lie or dodge when PEDs come up. Not Ryan. He said it straight. He even explained why—mostly to move up in weight and train harder. That kind of honesty? It’s rare. Whether you agree with it or not, the guy owned it.

3. He Knew the Game: Ryan made a point that stuck: ADCC and other big grappling events didn’t have real doping testing. Not year-round. Not serious. So for him, PEDs weren’t “cheating”—they were a tool everyone was probably using. And in his mind, he just played the same game, only louder.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE PART

He still made a choice. Steroids do help. With recovery. With training volume. With staying at the top. So yeah, it’s not like they didn’t matter.

But he also said this:

That hit me. He didn't say it in a positive manner, but rather in a genuine one.

He’s obsessed with legacy. With being the best. Even if it comes at a cost.

MY HONEST TAKE

Do I agree with everything Gordon Ryan did? Nope. But do I think he cheated his way to the top? Not really. He bent the rules in a sport that barely had any. And he told us the whole time.

What bugs me more is the system. The weak testing. The silence from other athletes. The way some pretend the sport is “clean” when it probably isn’t.

Ryan didn’t just compete in that world—he exposed it.

FINAL THOUGHT

Gordon Ryan’s PED use won’t be the reason I remember him.

I’ll remember the technique. The pressure. The dominance. And yeah, the controversy.

He made me ask what “fair” really means in this sport. And whether I like it or not… that’s part of his legacy too.

—Ben,