Speculation about Jake Paul’s steroid use is mounting after an unflattering photo of the star with acne on his face circulated on social media.
The 27-year-old child actor-turned-boxer has been accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs since he transitioned to combat sports and rapidly bulked up.
His critics point to Paul’s facial acne and thinning hair (hallmarks of steroid abuse) and lax drug testing before his fights as further evidence.
For his part, Paul has repeatedly publicly denied taking performance-enhancing drugs. “First of all, obviously none of that is true,” Paul said in a podcast Prior to his fight with UFC fighter Mike Perry, he also released negative results from performance-enhancing drug tests.
But the recent photo has raised suspicions among medical professionals about Paul’s bulking routine. Dr Stuart Fischer, a New York physician, told DailyMail.com: “It’s definitely suspicious.”
A PROBLEM: The controversy began when Dillion Danis, a former MMA fighter who is friends with Connor McGregor, shared this photo of Paul with the caption: ‘Steroids are bad kids.’
Paul began his pivot into combat sports around 2018. Since then, he has grown immensely in strength while igniting controversy with some of the biggest names in fighting, including Conor McGregor and Mike Tyson.
Dr. Fischer explained that steroids can weaken the skin and cause hormonal fluctuations.
Hormonal fluctuations can in turn cause someone to develop acne and hair loss.
He also noted how unusual a sudden outbreak of acne was at Paul’s age.
These are widely known side effects of taking performance-enhancing drugs, Tom Coughlin, a sports performance nutritionist and anti-doping educator, told DailyMail.com.
“He certainly has a reason for (using steroids) in order to enhance his performance,” Coughlin said, noting that the Ohio native had gotten into shape before his fight against Perry.
Paul has publicly shared the results of multiple Performance-enhancing drug testing over the years With negative results. However, Coughlin said people are still skeptical of Paul because he has not participated in all the same drug tests that other professional athletes undergo.
“I’m guessing he’s certainly not under the same type of scrutiny that a professional athlete would be under in that regard,” said Coughlin, who trains professional athletes and is a longtime fan of combat sports.
In the past, popular combat sports figures have accused Paul of using performance enhancers. These include bodybuilders Victor MartinezFighters Dillion Danis, Tyron Woodley and Conor McGregor and their physical condition YouTuber Kenneth Boulet.
Even with those suspicions, both Mr. Coughlin and Dr. Fischer caution that without examining Paul there is no way to know for sure.
“The evidence we have is not in itself smoking gun,” Coughlin said.
DailyMail.com has contacted Paul’s team for comment.
There are other possible explanations for these physical changes that don’t involve steroids. The stress of training to get into the ring could have caused Paul’s cosmetic changes, Dr. Fischer said.
When the body is frequently subjected to intense exercise, it can weaken the immune system, leading to large acne breakouts.
Additionally, it’s possible that Paul has always had acne and is losing his hair as he ages, Coughlin said. Paul has shared his frustrations with acne on the Internet in the past. In 2015, he wrote in X:Why does acne exist? Go away!
Mr Coughlin said acne and hair loss are just two of the many unpleasant side effects of steroids.
They can also cause nerve damage, heart and liver death, fertility problems, aggression and depression.
They are “potentially very dangerous” when used without medical supervision.
