Gordon Ryan’s recent comments about steroid abuse have struck a nerve across combat sports. The BJJ star’s blunt statements about how financial resources influence doping practices have gone viral, with even MMA analysts adding to the conversation. Ryan’s message, though controversial, exposes an uncomfortable truth that many want to ignore: steroid testing in MMA and other sports overwhelmingly favors the wealthy.

The heart of Ryan’s argument lies in the unequal playing field created by the access, or lack thereof, to medical expertise and financial backing. The BJJ GOAT explained that steroid testing in MMA ultimately benefits wealthy athletes. Lower-level fighters, who frequently struggle to afford basic training fees, lack the ability to evade tests, whereas top-tier fighters with enough financial backing can seek medical expertise to avoid detection.

He said, “Those guys, if there’s steroid testing, won’t have the resources or the money to hire the doctors necessary to beat the test. So those guys are natural.” But exposing the practices of the rich, the 30-year-old added, “The guys at the top… will always have the resources and money available to them to hire the doctors to help them beat the test.”

The 30-year-old went further, exposing what he believes is the flawed foundation of anti-doping protocols: “The whole purpose of steroid testing is that you don’t have natural athletes competing against unnatural athletes. But you get that anyways.” Well, his points are simple. Gordon Ryan‘s frustration comes from seeing natural athletes forced to compete against chemically enhanced opponents who escape detection through advanced doping methods.

Even studies back his claims: while 30-45% of elite athletes admit to doping, just 1-3% test positive, suggesting that the vast majority evade detection. With anti-doping testing finding only 40% of violators and costing up to $500 million every year, it’s evident that the system isn’t closing the gaps that money can buy.

Luke Thomas, recognizing the gravity of Gordon Ryan’s words, reposted the viral video on X, stating that what Ryan says is “well documented.” He emphasized how doping prevalence is closely linked to financial resources, pointing out that prize money and sponsorship deals provide considerable incentives for athletes to dope.

He wrote, “This specific phenomenon where rich, entrenched athletes use their resource advantages to avoid banned substance detection while younger, poorer athletes cannot is well documented in anti-doping research.”

Even entire countries with vast resources, such as Russia, have often been implicated in organizing complex doping schemes in the Olympics, proving how wealth determines the sophistication and success of evasion strategies. But why do MMA fighters even take such a risk? Well, according to Chael Sonnen, it is all about feeling insecure, as he cited Jon Jones as a prime example.

Was Gordon Ryan’s theory proven right by Chael Sonnen?

Gordon Ryan’s theory about how wealth influences doping is echoed in Chael Sonnen’s remarks on Jon Jones. ‘The American Gangster,’ who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career, claimed that many sportsmen cheat due to insecurity rather than greed. His findings assist in explaining why some fighters take such risks and how those with money and resources might avoid detection.

Sonnen stated, “They somewhere wanted an edge, and then they come back, go, ‘But I could have done it anyway.’ Well, maybe you didn’t think you could.” He believes Jones, despite denying only a few allegations, may have felt doubt, which led him to use illegal substances. This mindset shows how even champions with enormous talent can take shortcuts when they fear falling behind.

Chael Sonnen’s observations back up Gordon Ryan’s claim that only elite athletes with access to expensive doctors and testing experts can maintain such behavior. Fighters without those resources are left to compete organically, but the affluent can conceal their use and continue to perform at peak levels. Together, their words expose how doping is less about personal failure and more about structural inequality driven by money and access.