Kayla Harrison has fiercely rebutted Julianna Peña’s accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), expressing her disdain for what she perceives as baseless and classless claims. Known for her blunt and outspoken nature, Peña recently accused Harrison of PED use without providing any concrete evidence, asserting that there was “no question” about Harrison’s use, if not currently, then at some point in her career.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and a clean athlete throughout her extensive drug-testing history, felt infuriated by Peña’s remarks. “It pisses me off,” Harrison declared. “I have never tested positive for anything, ever, in my very long drug-testing career. And number two, don’t f*cking say things like that if you don’t have hard evidence. That’s a serious thing to talk about, to me. I take cheating very seriously.”
She emphasized her commitment to clean competition, highlighting the discipline and hard work that have characterized her career. “I have always competed clean, I carry myself to a high standard, and I know that I haven’t always competed against people who were clean, but I’m not going to throw accusations out just because I feel like I think they’re not clean. That’s bullshit.”
Harrison sees Peña’s accusations as a preemptive excuse for a potential future defeat. “She’s just building in an excuse for when I whoop her ass,” Harrison stated, adding that her physical conditioning is the result of years of rigorous training, not illicit substances. “God forbid anyone trains from the time they are six years old until they are 34 and develops a physique built to beat the shit out of people.”
Given her extensive history with USADA, dating back to when she was 12 years old, Harrison is uniquely positioned to refute PED accusations. She recalled her early experiences with drug testing, saying. “I remember it vividly because they went to my middle school and I was actually home sick that day. I was in the top five on the national roster for judo, and once you enter the top five. You automatically go into USADA’s drug testing pool.”
Harrison has undergone rigorous and frequent drug testing throughout her career, both in and out of competition. She recounted a particularly intense period in December 2015. Where she was drug-tested four times in one month across China, Korea, Japan, and upon her return home.
Peña’s accusations, Harrison argues, are not just promotional tactics but damaging and irresponsible. “It pisses me off because I’ve worked really hard my whole life to be an athlete and to be competitor. In my mind, we are held to a different standard. I would never make false accusations,” she said. “To me, it just shows no class.”
Despite the controversy, Harrison remains focused on her career. After making her UFC debut in April and defeating Holly Holm at UFC 300, she has her sights set on the bantamweight title. She concluded emphatically, “I know the truth and I’m happy with everything I’ve accomplished and I’m going to accomplish. And I’ll never fail a drug test. You know why? Because I don’t f*cking cheat.”
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