Julianna Peña isn’t buying Kayla Harrison’s clean bill of health. As the UFC 316 title fight looms June 7 in Newark, Peña has openly cast doubt on Harrison’s record, accusing the two-time Olympic gold medalist of bending the rules with performance-enhancing drugs.
Despite more than a decade of testing with no positive results, Peña remains unconvinced. She points to sophisticated doping strategies revealed in the Icarus documentary, arguing that elite athletes and their teams can outsmart drug tests by timing cycles and masking substances.
“People that do these kinds of things are so smart… they know how to get off, when to cycle off, when to go on,” Peña told MMA Junkie.
Harrison’s coach, Mike Brown, dismissed the accusations as baseless, praising Harrison’s natural talent.
Peña says she wouldn’t harp on this if she stood alone. But fans and the MMA community have raised similar concerns, fueling her resolve. She compares the situation to Lance Armstrong’s denials before his fall from grace—reminding everyone how easy it is to mask the truth.
The champion’s unease extends beyond Harrison herself. Peña criticizes the UFC’s shift in drug testing oversight from the stringent U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to Drug Free Sport International in 2025.
She describes the new system as “more lax than ever,” noting how the previous process, including secure Icarus sample bottles, felt tougher to circumvent than today’s simple plastic cups.
Regardless of the controversy, Peña vows to defend her title. She predicts Harrison will try to control the fight with pressure and grappling, but believes the longer it lasts, the better her chances.
“She might try to throw me one time, but after that… she’s not going to be able to hold me down for 25 minutes.”
With the spotlight on drug testing and fairness, this fight promises more than just action—it’s a test of trust in the sport itself.
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