"Triple H" Paul Levesque's nutritionist Dave Palumbo said WWE's drug policy allows wrestlers to take human growth hormone (hGH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Those performance-enhancing drugs are supposedly banned by WWE's wellness policy.
Palumbo did an interview with Matt Riviera, posted to YouTube today, where Riviera asked Palumbo what "supplements" Levesque took to get in shape for WrestleMania. The relevant comments start at about 29:45 into the YouTube clip.
Palumbo insinuated all WWE wrestlers are tested, saying "If you’re getting on that stage to wrestle, you’re gonna be tested. The good thing about wrestling is it’s not a professional sport, per se, it’s more entertainment."
WWE CEO Vince McMahon's interview before a congressional subcommittee in 2007 made it pretty clear the company's drug testing policy only applied to full-time performers.
"[WWE's drug policy] only governs those talents that are regularly scheduled to compete in the ring. I say 'compete,' perform in the ring," McMahon said in 2007.
Palumbo's comments in the interview with Riveria went on to more clearly contradict WWE's wellness policy, claiming wrestlers were allowed to use human growth hormone (hGH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). He called those drugs "acceptable" and noted "a lot of wrestlers do do it."
Palumbo: The good thing about wrestling is it’s not a professional sport, per se, it’s more entertainment. They’re allowed to take hormone replacement. They can go to an HRT [hormone replacement therapy] place and get, ya know, testosterone replacement, ya know, 100mg a week, whatever they prescribe nowadays. They can get hCG [human chorionic gonadotropin], ya know, hGH [human growth hormone] if they want. Those are acceptable. A lot of the wrestlers do do it, and it’s not for me to say who’s using what, but they’re very minimal doses.
Section 4 of WWE's drug policy, available on its corporate website, provides a list of prohibited substances. It clearly states hCG and hGH are banned.
"The non-medical use of Human Growth Hormone (hGH), Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ((hCG), Luetenizing Hormone (LH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) is prohibited."
Riviera went on to press Palumbo on whether Triple H used large doses of steroids to get in shape for WrestleMania. Palumbo said Triple H was not taking large doses of steroids, adding Triple H would "love to" be able to do so, but can't.
Riviera: So for Triple H, for him to achieve that physique he was not on large doses of anabolic steroids.
Palumbo: No, no they can’t do it. Believe me. I’m sure he would love to do it but ya know they can’t do it. So that’s why diet and supplementation become so important and how you train.
Brock Lesnar failed a drug test in 2016 related to his fight at UFC 200, testing positive for clomiphene: a drug often used when coming off of anabolic steroids. Lesnar was under WWE contract at the time of the drug test failure but received no known punishment from WWE, lending more credence to the notion wrestlers who don't work a full schedule, such as Lesnar and Triple H, aren't subject to drug tests like full-timers are.
In 2004, Palumbo pled guilty and was sentenced to do time in federal prison over selling counterfeit hGH in San Diego, California.
In addition to being Levesque's nutritionist, Palumbo is an accomplished former bodybuilder and YouTuber.
"Roid gut" or "hGH gut" is commonly called Palumboism, named for Palumbo himself.
WWE issued a statement on the matter to Fightful, saying "WWE’s comprehensive Talent Wellness Policy, which is administered by an independent, third-party, clearly states hGH and hCG are among a long list of banned substances, however, due to certain medical conditions, there are a variety of therapeutic exemptions that account for approximately 7% of our contracted talent.”
