ONE Championship: Mikey Musumeci posts drug test results, says ‘you don’t need to inject a needle’ to be champ
- ONE flyweight submission grappling champion says that jiu jitsu is ‘ridiculous with the amount of steroids involved’
- Musumeci praises ONE for ‘changing the landscape’ with drug testing, as he posts the results of his latest clean sample
ONE Championship flyweight submission grappling king Mikey Musumeci has taken aim at jiu jitsu’s steroid abusers, as he praised his promotion for helping to clean up the sport.
The 26-year-old American recently defended his title with a submission win via rear-naked choke against Osamah Almarwai at ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver, Colorado – the Singapore-based martial arts organisation’s debut on US soil.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Musumeci shared a notification from ONE that his latest post-fight sample had come back clean.
“I want to thank ONE Championship and Chatri [Sityodtong, CEO] for testing athletes for steroids and PEDS [performance-enhancing drugs],” he wrote in the post.
“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.
“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’, realise you don’t need to inject a needle in your butt to be a champion.
“You don’t need to take short cuts to be a champion, get a stronger mind and better jiu jitsu and make it happen.”
In another recent post, Musumeci also said he “can’t wait” to compete again following his huge victory in Denver.
The event was an emotional one for Musumeci, who admitted afterwards he was under big pressure to deliver in the country he was born and raised in.
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Complicating matters even further was that he went through a bout of depression in the months leading up to the bout, an issue that he has struggled with throughout his life.
“The only thing I will say is that if I can get through these times, then everyone can,” Musumeci told the Post.
“You just have to be patient, it’s very hard. But I don’t know. I just feel so blessed that I’m here and I got emotional at the end of the match. I just reflected on the last two months – it was just a mix of me training and praying, and asking God to help me.”
ONE chairman and CEO Chatri has taken Musumeci under his wing, and labelled him the “best pound for pound” grappler on the planet after his win – and a “role model”.
“Look at Mikey, he’s a kid who’s been super nerdy his whole life,” Chatri said. “He’s a wonderful sweetheart with a heart of gold.
“But he didn’t have the easiest childhood and he has suffered from depression all of his life. Anyone who is suffering from depression ... if Mikey can do it, you can do it.”
