YouTube sensation turned professional boxer Jake Paul has issued a defiant response to his critics, publicly revealing data that shows he has been subjected to more stringent drug testing than heavyweight star Anthony Joshua and elite fighter Gervonta Davis.
Silencing the Critics with Data
The social media star, often dubbed 'The Problem Child', has faced persistent allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his boxing career. These claims have shadowed his rise in the sport, with some detractors even suggesting his fights were 'fixed'.
Paul's high-profile bout against former world champion Anthony Joshua last month was a professionally sanctioned contest overseen by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The fight, which took place in December in Miami, ended with Joshua securing a sixth-round knockout victory after dropping Paul twice in the fifth.
In a direct move to counter the doping rumours, Paul recently took to X, formerly Twitter, to share a screenshot from the official USADA website. The data displayed the total sample counts for himself, Joshua, and Davis.
The figures revealed a total of 24 samples collected from the three athletes. Crucially, Paul's count stood at 10 tests, surpassing both Joshua's 6 and Davis's 8 submissions. "USADA, VADA, PRADA, NADA," Paul captioned the post, taking a clear swipe at his sceptics.
A History of Proactive Testing
This transparency campaign is not a new tactic for the American fighter. Ahead of a proposed exhibition bout with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis in November—a fight later scrapped due to Davis's legal issues—Paul had already enrolled in a strict USADA programme.
In a YouTube video at the time, Paul addressed his accusers directly, stating, "Don’t worry, for all of you Karens who accuse me of being on steroids as the reason for winning all of my fights, we have the strictest drug testing possible for this match. US Anti-Doping Agency. Random drug tests at any moment."
His business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, emphasised the rigorous protocol before the Joshua clash, telling the Daily Mail that both fighters would be heavily monitored. "Jake was tested eight times by USADA during the past... seven weeks since we started the programme," Bidarian revealed, highlighting the randomised and frequent nature of the checks.
The Legacy of USADA in Combat Sports
The involvement of USADA carries significant weight in combat sports. The agency served as the official anti-doping body for the UFC from 2015 to 2024, a period credited with cleaning up the sport through its strict punishments and unpredictable testing regime.
By voluntarily submitting to and publicly highlighting this level of scrutiny, Jake Paul aims to shift the narrative surrounding his credibility as a serious athlete. Whether this data will fully quieten the long-standing allegations remains to be seen, but it provides a concrete counter-argument to claims he has 'cut corners' in his boxing career.
