Meyer Shapiro sure knows how to get everyone riled up. “Some guys, if they’re taking steroids or they’re not taking steroids, wink wink, it’s just crazy,” he said in an interview at the NCAA Championships. That’s that, and now things have taken a colossal spiral amongst the wrestling community. The use of steroids in the collegiate wrestling scene has been a long-debated subject. But Shapiro’s instigating remarks, without naming names, have only sparked a fire.
Now Shapiro himself had barely just made a splendid comeback, as he stepped into the NCAA Championships just over a month after he was put in a coma. While things haven’t been smooth given his health issues, he, however, pushed through to claim a fifth place finish after he lost to Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor and later to Penn State’s Tyler Kasak.
He may have earned All-American honors, but he wasn’t very happy with his result, given his third-place finish from last year. And it was after this match that Meyer made that casual yet divisive comment. With this controversy taking center stage, former Nittany Lion Jason Nolf reacted, saying, “No one in college wrestling is taking steroids.” And the hullabaloo continues.
Now, it’s FloWrestling’s Christian Pyles’ turn, as he took to X to critique Shapiro’s words: “Meyer Shapiro’s steroid accusation/suggestion combined with the chime ins from Alex Marinelli and Jacob Warner struck a chord with me. There was nothing helpful brought to light whatsover. Just nameless, vague accusations. Unhelpful and reckless.”
Meyer Shapiro’s steroid accusation/suggestion combined with the chime ins from Alex Marinelli and Jacob Warner struck a chord with me. There was nothing helpful brought to light whatsover. Just nameless, vague accusations. Unhelpful and reckless. pic.twitter.com/wUdjBrnxj5
— Christian Pyles (@CPyles8) March 24, 2025
Pyles’ words have come after former Hawkeyes, Alex Marinelli and Jacob Warner, put out their own reactions that seemed to corroborate Shapiro’s insinuation. Warner said, “UH OH. SHOCKER!” while Marinelli wrote, “NO REALLLLYYY .” But the reaction has been divided with many disagreements. And this continues with an array of reactions from fans, who seconded the steroid allegations made by Shapiro.
Meyer Shapiro’s allegations get heads up from fans
Steroid use has been a major conversation when we talk about sports. While things go hush-hush and get ‘under the table,’ some fans thought it applaudable of Meyer Shapiro to bring the subject to the light. A fan wrote, “Steroids and PEDs are a major issue in sports, especially in combat sports. Good on Shapiro for addressing a difficult and often taboo subject.” Yes, someone has to bring it up, right? And Shapiro did. While he never directly pointed out anyone, he implied that it was an open and widespread secret.
Another fan agreed with Shapiro’s comments, “Of course, PED usage exists. Look at what happened when the IBJJF introduced testing—many top athletes either tested positive or withdrew from competition altogether. And that’s in a sport without the financial incentives that NIL deals bring to wrestling.” Felipe Costa was stripped of his 2024 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship title and received a one-year suspension after testing positive for clomiphene. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, and the list can actually go on. The fan suggested that with NIL deals on the line, wrestlers are more incentivized than ever to keep up performances.
Another fan contributed to the suspicions, “Penn State’s RTC athletes have suspicious patterns. Many stop competing for extended periods, then return at higher weight classes with seemingly no difficulty. It raises legitimate questions about how they make such drastic weight jumps.”
However, it’s worth noting that there are many vague accusations. Things like this need the proper scrutiny; dropping loose accusations will not lead the sport anywhere. A fan wrote, “At the same time, vague accusations without concrete proof don’t help either. If PED use and testing procedures need scrutiny, that’s worth exploring, but throwing around allegations doesn’t add much to the discussion.” Unless there’s solid proof, such allusions only bring discord and finger-pointing.
Another added that Shapiro, due to his health issues, may have had clouded judgment as he made that comment. “For example, the wrestler in question had serious health issues not long ago. Fatigue and emotion may have influenced his words, making his comments less relevant to the bigger picture.” His health issues were indeed quite severe, with a coma, seizures, and punctured lungs, so this is also a probable explanation.
What counts here is a neutral take on it! What Meyer Shapiro said could be true, or might not be; however, without solid evidence, it’s hard to take his words seriously. As a fan rightly stated, “Both things can be true: PED concerns in wrestling deserve attention, but without solid evidence, calling out individuals or programs may be unproductive. Wrestlers who feel wronged have a right to speak out, but the issue needs a more structured conversation.” A constructive narrative can only work here; no beating around the bush.
The post Fans Believe Steroid Allegations Over Penn State Amidst Meyer Shapiro’s Comments appeared first on EssentiallySports.