Adesanya kicks off on drugs and critics

Israel Adesanya has revealed his frustrations over being accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs following his UFC middleweight title defence over Paulo Costa in 2020.

Ahead of his upcoming defence at UFC 276 tomorrow, Adesanya was presented with his milestone jacket by the UFC for returning 50 clean tests in their joint venture with the US Anti-Doping Association to prevent athletes from doping. Adesanya has often been among the most tested UFC athletes in the programme, which shows in him reaching the milestone in just four years.

The programme has been running since 2015 and Adesanya is the first athlete who joined the UFC after it was already in operation to reach the milestone.

It’s a mark that many athletes wear as a badge of pride, given the history of athletes being found out for PED use and, when asked, Adesanya didn’t hold back on criticising the suggestions his detractors had espoused after the Costa fight.

Expected to be one of the biggest tests of his career, Adesanya passed with flying colours when he stopped Costa in the second round. It was a dominant performance, handing

Costa the first loss of his career. However, some viewers noticed Adesanya had a swollen right pectoral muscle and immediately set the internet alight with accusations that the Kiwi champion had been doping.

One of the more well-known triggers for gynecomastia, the medical term for swelling in male breast tissue, is the use of anabolic steroids or androgens, but it can also be caused by a variety of factors, including drugs and alcohol, various medications, and herbal products.

A couple of weeks after the fight, Adesanya said he had been examined by UFC doctors and had his hormone levels checked, noting marijuana use could have contributed.

“They talk about titty-gate, but they’re just looking to find excuses to take away my greatness,” Adesanya said yesterday. “I understand this is what people are supposed to do so I let them. I would give $3 million to anyone who could ever have concrete evidence that I even know what I’m doing with steroids. I promise you, $3 million. Pull up.

“So yeah, pull up. $3 million. I know you don’t have that in the bank, but I do.”

This weekend, Adesanya is set for the latest challenge to his standing as the world’s best middleweight with knockout artist Jared Cannonier stepping up to the mark.