Two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison possesses a physique that often draws attention, and perhaps the ire of rival Julianna Peña. However, her impressive build doesn`t mean she achieved it through cheating, says her head coach Mike Brown of American Top Team.
Brown was responding to Peña`s recent accusations that Harrison`s success, including her ranking as MMA Fighting’s No. 1 bantamweight, is partly due to steroid use. While it`s not the first time Harrison has faced such claims, Peña specifically stated she hoped Harrison would “cycle off” before their scheduled bout at UFC 316 on June 7th, where they are set to meet in the co-main event.
Despite Kayla Harrison never having failed a single drug test throughout her career, Peña continued to level the accusations. Coach Brown was quick to shut down these claims.
“I understand why she says that; Kayla doesn`t look `normal,` but that`s just how the world works,” Brown told MMA Fighting. “There are people who are not average, they don`t look average. There are athletic `freaks` out there, and those `freaks` are the ones who rise to the top in sports.”
Brown elaborated, saying, “You find individuals with abnormal builds in every way. Some are incredibly strong, others unbelievably fast, quick, or have extreme endurance. Just because you might not be built that way, it doesn`t mean someone else can`t be.”
Peña offered no evidence to support her allegations. She contrasted Harrison`s appearance during her Olympic career, describing her as looking “like a girl” and “very feminine,” with her current look in MMA, which Peña called “super juicy and cut up.”
What Peña failed to mention is that Harrison won her Olympic championships while competing at 78 kilograms (nearly 172 pounds), enduring difficult same-day weigh-ins unlike MMA fighters. Since transitioning to full-time fighting, Harrison initially competed at 155 pounds before shedding further weight to join the UFC`s bantamweight division at 135 pounds.
In simple terms, Harrison is currently walking around and competing at a significantly lower weight than she did during her Olympic judo career, which logically explains the changes in her physique and overall appearance. Brown also noted that while the “eye test” can sometimes indicate performance-enhancing drug use, he doesn`t believe Harrison`s appearance fits that standard.
“For me, the most significant indicator of a clean athlete is consistency,” Brown explained. “Their body remains largely the same over extended periods. Kayla is always consistent; she doesn’t change drastically. Of course, cutting weight causes temporary changes, but someone using illegal substances – you can often tell. Their body can change noticeably within a week. You see these ups and downs in individuals taking testosterone or similar substances.”
Brown stated emphatically, “No, she is a hundred percent clean athlete. She always has been, and she always will be. She doesn`t need it. She`s a `freak` among athletic `freaks.` She is by no means a normal athlete; she is a truly special athlete.”
Because Harrison is such an exceptionally rare talent, Brown understands it might be difficult for some people to comprehend that the 34-year-old from Ohio achieved her sculpted physique entirely through natural means. Brown assures that he witnesses the immense hard work Harrison puts in every single day and can attest that she takes no shortcuts.
Julianna Peña may find it hard to accept, but Brown believes she simply isn`t built with the same natural gifts as Harrison, and that`s a tough reality for Peña to swallow.
“These kinds of exceptional individuals exist,” Brown said about athletes like Harrison. “People tend to judge others based on how they themselves are built and raised, but that`s not the peak of the athletic potential food chain. There are people out there who are truly not `normal` in their physical capabilities.”
He concluded by drawing parallels: “Just like in basketball, you have athletes who are 7-foot-6 or 7-foot-7. In other sports, you find athletes who are unbelievably muscular or possess seemingly unworldly levels of conditioning. Just because you personally cannot achieve that, doesn`t mean somebody else isn`t capable of it.”
