Leo Vieira is a legendary figure as both a BJJ competitor and coach, and he recently shared his thoughts on PEDs in the sport from both of those perspectives. It’s been quite a popular topic in the Jiu-Jitsu world in recent years, as open admissions of use from top competitors have brought it to the attention of the wider mainstream audience. The prevalence of use in the sport was always something of an open secret and anybody stepping on the mats at the highest level has always been well aware of the fact that their opponents may be using PEDs even if they weren’t.
Leo Vieira has seen the recent discussion about PEDs in BJJ too, and he was clear about the fact that it’s not something he was ever involved in:
“I see these discussions. For me, it was very natural, you understand? From my upbringing at home, my personal values, the education I had with (Romero ‘Jacare’ Cavalcanti), you know? I never dabbled in it; I always had fear.”
He also gave his personal opinions on other competitors who do use them and he leans more on whether the specific promotions actually allow it, echoing similar statements from Gordon Ryan:
“I’m not someone who says, ‘Ah, I’m in favor,’ or ‘I’m against.’ I’m against anything that goes against the sport. If the sport tells you not to use it, then it’s not cool to use it. If certain federations allow it, then it’s fine. Other federations don’t say anything, so people were using it anyway.”
Although testing is limited to just the IBJJF today, there were no promotions testing at all when Vieira was an active competitor. He explained that competing against athletes taking PEDs was simply something he had to accept back then:
“I knew I was going to grapple against people who used it. It didn’t bother me, you understand? If it had bothered me, I would have had two choices: either take it myself to compensate, or change sports. Or I would have just sat down and said, ‘That’s as far as I can go.’ It was never something that bothered me.”
Despite never taking it himself, Vieira explained that it was still aware of it happening around him:
“It was difficult, with all those things: steroids, drugs. Back then, in places like Ipanema, with those guys from the surf scene and that whole movement, it was everywhere.”
Leo Vieira also spoke about the use of PEDs in the sport from a coach’s perspective and he maintained his level-headed, neutral approach to the topic:
“When I became a teacher and started working with athletes, I was careful because I knew athletes might use things…”
He also recognised that as a Jiu -Jitsu coach, it wasn’t a topic he could offer any advice on:
“What I always said was, ‘Look, I advise you not to take anything, because it’s something I don’t know about.’ I didn’t restrict anyone, but I told them to seek guidance from professionals; doctors, nutritionists, experts in the field.”
Vieira also finished by explaining that it is ultimately the athlete’s personal choice and he focuses more on the specifics of his role as a Jiu-Jitsu coach more than anything else:
“My position has stayed the same since back then. I train athletes, and I believe they can and should compete within what the rules allow and within what makes them feel comfortable. Not just physically, but emotionally as well.”
The full interview with Leo Vieira where he discusses his stance on PEDs was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Pura Temple of Arts:
