EXCLUSIVEJake Paul sparks steroid suspicions among doctors after photo of star with bad face acne
Speculation about Jake Paul's steroid use is mounting after an unflattering photo of the star with face acne circulated on social media.
The child actor-turned-boxer, 27, has been accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs since transitioning to combat sports and rapidly bulking up.
His critics point to Paul's facial acne and thinning hairline – hallmarks of steroid abuse – and lax drug testing before his fights as further proof.
For his part, Paul has repeatedly publicly denied using any performance enhancing drugs. 'First of all, obviously none of that is true,' Paul said on a podcast ahead of his match with with UFC fighter Mike Perry. He's also published the results of negative performance enhancing drug tests before.
But the recent photo has raised suspicions amongst medical professionals about Paul's bulking routine. Dr Stuart Fischer, a New York based physician told DailyMail.com: 'It's definitely suspicious.'
A SPOT OF TROUBLE: The controversy kicked off when Dillion Danis, a former MMA fighter who is chummy with Connor McGregor, shared this photo of Paul with the caption: 'Steroids are bad kids'
Paul began his combat sports pivot around 2018. Since then, he's beefed up massively while igniting controversy with some of the biggest names in fighting - including Conor McGregor and Mike Tyson
Dr Fischer explained that steroids can weaken someone's skin and cause hormonal fluctuations.
The hormonal fluctuations can then in turn cause someone to develop acne and hair loss.
He also highlighted how a sudden outbreak of acne at Paul's age was unusual.
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 to [use steroids] in order to improve his performance,' Mr Coughlin said, highlighting that the Ohio native had bulked up ahead of his fight against Perry.
Paul has publicly shared the results of multiple performance enhancing drug tests over the years with negative results. However, Mr Coughlin said, people are still skeptical of Paul because he hasn't participated in all the same anti-doping tests that other professional athletes submit to.
'He's certainly not, I suppose, put under the same sort of scrutiny as a professional athlete would when it comes to that,' Mr Coughlin, who trains professional athletes and is a longtime fan of combat sports, said.
In the past, popular figures in combat sports have accused Paul of using performance enhancers. This includes body builder Victor Martinez, fighters Dillion Danis, Tyron Woodley and Conor McGregor and fitness YouTuber Kenneth Boulet.
Even with those suspicions, both Mr Coughlin and Dr Fischer caution that without testing Paul, there's no way to know for certain.
'The evidence that we have is is not a smoking gun by itself,' Mr Coughlin said.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Paul's team for comment.
There are other possible explanations for these physical changes that don't involve steroids. The stress of training to enter the ring could've caused Paul's aesthetic changes, Dr Fischer said.
When the body is frequently subjected to intense exercise, it can knock out the immune system - leading to large acne flare ups.
Also, it's possible that Paul has always had acne and can be losing his hair with age, Mr Coughlin said. In the past, Paul has shared frustrations with his acne online. In 2015, he wrote on X: 'Why is acne a thing. Go away.'
Mr Coughlin said acne and hair loss are just two of a host of unpleasant side effects of steroids.
They can also cause nerve damage, heart and liver dieses, fertility problems, aggression and depression.
They are 'potentially very dangerous' when used without a doctors supervision.
