Israel Adesanya, regarded as one of the best strikers in mixed martial arts, might be suffering from a rare disease called “Gynecomastia” for a long time. However, a reigning champion never discloses his strengths or weaknesses publicly in order to prevent himself from his rivals.
When UFC 253 kicked off back in September 2020, and the underdog Israel Adesanya was walking through the entry area, it was evident that his chest area was slightly swollen. Even with a chest lump, he made it look easy on his rival, Paulo Costa and knocked him out with ease. It was the first time he was spotted with this health condition.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition in which one or both of a male’s chest swells abnormally and non-cancerously due to the proliferation of breast tissue, which is caused by an estrogen and androgen hormone imbalance. Gynecomastia can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these include alcohol abuse, drugs, different types of pharmaceuticals, and even herbal products. The usage of PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) is one of the reasons for enlarged pecs as well.
What caused Israel Adesanya’s gynecomastia?
Even though Israel’s critics have constantly accused him of using PEDs he valiantly denied the allegations. The 32-year-old bashed his naysayers with his bold statement, “Fuck no! Fuck No! I’m not one of those people who needs a crutch… skills pay the bills.” And also added, “You know what Ariel, with a performance like I’ve had, I would think I was on fucking steroids too.”
However, in an interview with Ariel Helwani, the champ shed some light on the cause, “My pituitary gland was checked, hormone levels are fine, estrogen and testosterone. Yesterday we had an ultrasound and a mammogram. I had one for the first time. To be honest it might have just been unhealthy living a little bit. Like smoking weed, that’s what the doctor from the UFC said. He said I need to stop but I’m not stopping, I’m just going to slow down on the smoking weed.”
Is gyno a side effect of anabolic steroids?
Gynecomastia can be a possible side-effect of anabolic steroids, but it isn’t the only drug that causes gyno. In fact, Gynecomastia can be a side effect of certain medicines, such as antibiotics, antidepressants, ulcer chemotherapy, prostate cancer medicines, or cardiovascular medicines as well. Illegal drugs, such as marijuana, anabolic steroids, or cocaine, can also cause gynecomastia. The reigning middleweight champion has arguably denied that he has never used any kind of anabolic steroids. However, he accepted the frequent use of marijuana.
Is Adesanya still suffering from gynecomastia?
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker shared a post on Instagram back in January 2022. The Nigerian-New zealand is seen shirtless after a training session in that picture and it is evident that his gyno issue is still in effect.
Sports enthusiasts noticed his pectoral area and believed that he might still have gynecomastia when the photo was published. The Stylebender has not made a statement on it yet, so it is still unclear whether it is true or not.
