BJJ legend Rodrigo Comprido Medeiros has always been a public opponent in the past about steroids and any kind of drug in Jiu-Jitsu. With testing now happening within the IBJJF major tournaments, he talked to BJJ Eastern Europe about his views, being a role model, how he would react if he caught one of students doping and much more:
1. Comprido, you have been vocal in the past about being against the use of steroids in BJJ. What is it about the use of steroids that bothers you and why do you feel that you should make your voice heard?
Using steroids is cheating. That’s what bothers me. When the only way you can find to win a fight is cheating, I don’t think you deserve my respect. Eat well, train hard, get good rest, and do not cheat your opponents.
2. You have for sure faced competitors that you knew were doping. What went through your head as you were facing them? What goes on in the mind of a BJJ player that takes steroids?
In my mind, I’m thinking, “I have to beat this guy!” Whether I knew they were using steroids or not, that’s all I was thinking at the time. During the fight, it made no difference. I don’t try to figure our who’s doping and who’s not; I just try to figure out how to beat my opponent. I don’t know what is going on in the head of someone who uses steroids, but I would guess that they must be feeling pretty insecure about their Jiu-Jitsu or why would they feel the need to cheat by using performance enhancing drugs.
3. How important is it for a BJJ instructor to be a role model for his/her students? Should they be a role model just or also off the mats?
You know, I try to be a role model on and off the mats. Nobody is perfect, but you have to try to set an example for your students. If you have eyes turned in your direction, the minimum you can do is to practice what you preach.
4. What do you think about other substances such as marijuana, alcohol or cigarettes?
Those are all substances that we could do perfectly well in life without. I never smoked a cigarette or used marijuana in my life, and I never will. First of all, I do not want to put myself in a position to become addicted to something besides jiu-jitsu, and something that has negative effects on your whole life. Secondly, marijuana is illegal, and I will not break the law just to have a couple of laughs. I have drank alcohol in moderation on a few occasions, but you have to be careful because one person under the affects of alcohol can majorly impact the lives of others.
These are not the kind of people who come to work with me.
5. What would you do if you found out that one of your competitor students or team mates was doping?
Everyone knows well enough my position on such matters, and you have to be pretty stupid to approach me to be my student if you are using drugs. I really doubt that it would be possible for someone who used steroids to remain my student because of my strong views on the matter.
6. What do you propose as a realistic solution to control and eliminate the problem of PED use in BJJ competitions?
Random tests. Strip competitors of their titles. More random tests and stripping of titles. The problem is that the only federation that tests is IBJJF, and even they do not go far enough as they only test the champions. All federations should test and once you are suspended in one you should be suspended in all. No excuses. No whining.
7. What are your latest projects and what is next for you and your team in 2015?
I’ll be working to build a stronger team here at CompridoBJJ in Bloomingdale, Il., and making sure that my students have the tools not only to be better fighters but better persons. I’ll be trying to get myself in shape for the upcoming competitions, as well as preparing our BJJ camp in Cancun (coming in September). And I’ll keep using my voice to let people know that a strong body is good but a strong mind is much better.