Kayla Harrison doesn’t take care of Julianna Peña or her unfounded accusations.
Referred to as some of the brash fighters in all of ladies’s MMA, Peña as soon as once more grabbed headlines for what she stated exterior of the cage not too long ago as an alternative of her performances inside it, this time accusing Harrison of utilizing performance-enhancing medication. Peña supplied little in the best way of proof to help her declare however remained adamant that there was “no query” Harrison used PEDs, if not now than beforehand in her profession. And unsurprisingly, Harrison didn’t take kindly to these aspersions.
“It pisses me off,” Harrison stated Monday on The MMA Hour. “Primary, it pisses me off as a result of by no means as soon as have I examined optimistic for something, ever, within the historical past of my very lengthy drug-testing profession. And quantity two, don’t f*cking say issues like that if you happen to don’t have arduous proof. That’s a severe factor to speak about, to me. I take dishonest very significantly.
“I’ve all the time competed clear, I carry myself to a excessive commonplace, and I do know that I haven’t all the time competed towards individuals who have been clear, however I’m not going to throw accusations out simply because I really feel like I believe they’re not clear. That’s bullshit. And I believe it’s bullshit as a result of she’s simply constructing in an excuse for after I whoop her ass.
“So I’m irritated by it, and on the identical time, what a praise. I’m 100% natty and also you all suppose I’m on steroids. As a result of God forbid anybody ever work arduous and be disciplined and have a terrific staff round them and have outcomes from that. God forbid anybody practice from the time they have been six years till till the time they’re 34 years previous and develop a physique that was constructed to beat the shit out of individuals. God forbid somebody imagine in themselves and work arduous and succeed. It’s f*cked up. She’s bought to be dishonest!”
Of all of the fighters to accuse of taking PEDs, Harrison is uniquely well-prepared to defend herself from the claims. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, Harrison has been competing and submitting to drug exams for over twenty years, explaining that she first signed up with USADA 22 years in the past.
“Twelve [years old]. I used to be in center college,” Harrison stated when requested about her drug-testing historical past. “I bear in mind it vividly as a result of they went to my center college and I used to be truly residence sick that day. I used to be within the high 5 on the nationwide roster for judo, and when you enter the highest 5, you mechanically go into USADA’s drug testing pool.
“I’ve by no means failed a single check, by no means had something. I believe I’ve had — not a failed check however the place you miss [the tester], they arrive and also you’re not [there], I’ve had possibly two or three of these my entire life. There was a degree the place I used to be getting drug-tested — since you additionally get drug examined in competitors by WADA while you compete on the worldwide circuit — there was a degree, I believe in December of 2015 earlier than the Olympics, the place I bought drug examined in China, drug examined in Korea, drug examined in Japan, then I got here residence and bought drug examined. So I bought drug examined 4 occasions within the span of 1 month.”
And whereas Peña might view her accusations as merely battle promotion, for Harrison, it’s greater than that.
“It pisses me off as a result of I’ve labored actually arduous my entire life an to be an athlete and to be a competitor,” Harrison stated. “In my thoughts, we’re held to a special commonplace. I’d by no means make false accusations, as a result of what I say, the general public takes in and now could be going to spew out as a result of Julianna Pena says I’m on steroids. So to me, I’m not ever going to say one thing about somebody until I do know it’s true, as a result of I’m within the highlight and folks hearken to what I say. To me it simply exhibits no class.”
Sooner or later, Harrison might get the chance to make Peña pay for her phrases. The 2-time PFL champion made her UFC debut again in April, submitting Holly Holm at UFC 300. The win instantly inserted Harrison into the bantamweight title image, which is the place her sights are at the moment set. And may she get there, Harrison is aware of that it will likely be fully because of her personal arduous work.
“I simply don’t care anymore,” Harrison stated. “I do know the reality and I’m proud of every part I’ve achieved and I’m going to perform. And I’ll by no means fail a drug check. You already know why? As a result of I don’t f*cking cheat.”
