<figure id="attachment_389985" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389985" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="01c1dcf1"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/09f54f3c879755c2fdede5a3c199865d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389985" class="wp-caption-text">Ren Hiramoto opens up about the doping scandal</figcaption></figure>
<p> In the previous article, &#8220;[Exclusive confession] &#8216;I didn&#8217;t even ask for it,&#8217; Ren Hiramoto opens up about &#8216;doping scandal&#8217; after press conference,&#8221; RIZIN&#8217;s signature fighter, Ren Hiramoto, has clearly denied the &#8220;doping scandal&#8221; that befell her after her match against Mirai Asakura in the super-RIZIN on September 2. Hiramoto gave an exclusive interview to FRIDAY Digital right after the press conference held on September 2.</p>
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<p> Read <a href="https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/article/389965">what Ren Hiramoto revealed about the &#8220;doping scandal&#8221; after the press conference.</a></p>
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<p> The furore began when an audio recording of a conversation between Hiramoto&#8217;s former trainer, martial artist Yukinori Akazawa (32), and Hiramoto was posted on X. Later, Akazawa was asked if he was aware of Hiramoto&#8217;s doping allegations, and he replied that he was not. Akazawa then accused Hiramoto of doping under his own name. Hiramoto speculates about the sequence of events <span class="strongInContent">, &#8220;Rather than feeling betrayed, I wonder if (Mr. Akazawa) had some special circumstances</span>.</p>
<p> He reveals his feelings for the first time, along with the details of the preparations he has been working on for the Asakura Mirai match.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I trained three times a day: striking in the morning, physical in the afternoon, and grappling in the evening. I also valued recovery and sleep in between. He spent his days thinking hard in order to win. He spent so much time that a day seemed like an instant, and he trained hard to make his body bigger. And he fought fair and square. There was no way I could accept that he said, &#8220;I won by the power of drugs,&#8221; or &#8220;My body was made by doping.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I trusted Mr. Akazawa, and I still hope he is lying. I am inclined to believe that there were special circumstances that compelled Mr. Akazawa to take such an action. Mr. Akazawa offered to be my second in the Asakura match. However, I refused because my idea of strategy and his idea were different. That may have caused him to feel distant from me. After I turned him down, he suddenly came to the gym to watch me train and then left, and he also offered me a supplement that would &#8220;improve my training efficiency,&#8221; so I paid for it. But even if I took the cold medicine, I could still get caught in the doping check. So I didn&#8217;t take the supplements Mr. Akazawa sent me.</span></p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" I&#39;m not prepared to do that."></div>
<figure id="attachment_389986" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389986" style="width: 1667px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9177a75b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/2b92442672087fc03a043e4902be3318.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389986" class="wp-caption-text">Hiramoto leaving the press conference</figcaption></figure>
<p> After admitting that the voice posted on SNS was his own, Hiramoto confessed a thought he could not speak at the press conference.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> On August 4, when Mr. Akazawa called me, the exchange was edited to make it sound like I was using drugs. I felt I had to save face with Mr. Akazawa, and I couldn&#8217;t be dismissive, so I just went along with the story and said, &#8216;I&#8217;m taking (supplements). If I was aware that I was buying dubious drugs, there was no way I would have transferred the money under my real name. I don&#8217;t think the text Akazawa gave on SNS was written by him either. I felt the text was too much on Mirai Asakura&#8217;s side, or rather, too close to Mirai Asakura.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Almost none of the RIZIN players are making a fuss about this incident. I feel that the BreakingDown players have united and are attacking us now and then.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_389988" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389988" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="73bdb241"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/dcdfab41e377d613938c05e6da6c8c9b.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389988" class="wp-caption-text"> He is critical of the BreakingDown players.</figcaption></figure>
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<p> Asakura is the CEO of BreakingDown, and he is also their signature player. So, Hiramoto&#8217;s knockout of Asakura should not be amusing.</p>
<p> Hiramoto does not approve of BreakingDown. He says <span class="strongInContent">, &#8220;With a few exceptions, the BreakingDown players train only for fun, and they are not prepared for it</span>.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" I&#39;ll take a rematch anytime."></div>
<figure id="attachment_389989" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-389989" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="cd664d7f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/09/3a07b97ef56b20c31be14f2257e3310d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-389989" class="wp-caption-text">We are preparing for the next round with an eagle eye.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> People who have never been in the same ring as us are making a fuss. I practice to the limit every day. I don&#8217;t care about you guys. I want to say, &#8216;Don&#8217;t try to be a character in the story.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> （How did it all start, and who was behind it? The more I thought about the series of moves, the more I felt the shadows of dangerous people were flickering. Through someone, I was told, &#8216;I&#8217;ll shut Akazawa up, so get 30 million yen ready. I didn&#8217;t want to deal with it because there was no need to cover up something I didn&#8217;t do, but I was bothered by the fact that I needed the money in order to put an end to it. I can&#8217;t help feeling that someone is plotting this racket and using Akazawa-san to frame me, but I&#8217;m not thinking of pursuing that. I have a feeling that I&#8217;m in danger, or that my family might be harmed. I felt I had no choice but to lawyer up and resolve the issue.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p> On September 5, RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara (60) and three doctors held a press conference to announce the results of the doping tests. CEO Sakakibara <span class="strongInContent">said, &#8220;Both Mirai Asakura and Ren Hiramoto tested negative. We received those results back.&#8221;</span> He also mentioned the introduction of a blood test, which is considered more precise than a urine test.</p>
<p> There is a possibility that there will be calls for blood and hair tests in the future, but Hiramoto smiled cynically after saying <span class="strongInContent">, &#8220;If RIZIN instructs me to do so, I will comply.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> The next fight will attract attention whether it is denied or not,&#8221; he said. (A rematch with Mirai Asakura) could happen anytime, any number of times.&#8221;</span></p>
<p> It looks like we are about to see a dark hero who won&#8217;t just fall down.</p>
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 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Ren Hiramoto was suddenly involved in a "doping scandal" after her match against Mirai Asakura at the Super RIZIN. What was the origin of the furore? The fighter himself gave an exclusive interview.

Ren Hiramoto reveals the truth about the “doping scandal” for the first time.

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