WWE Superstar Roman Reigns Denies Knowledge of Steroid Pusher Richard Rodriguez

Roman Reigns has denied any knowledge of Richard Rodriguez, a man who says his Wellness Fitness Nutrition (WFN) supplied the WWE Superstar with performance-enhancing drugs.

“I have never heard of Richard Rodriguez or Wellness Fitness Nutrition,” Reigns (real name Joe Anoa’i) said in a statement to TheWrap. “I learned from the mistake I made nearly two years ago and paid the penalty for it. Since then, I’ve passed 11 tests as part of WWE’s independent drug testing program.”

Minutes before we received Reigns’ response, actor Mark Wahlberg denied being a client of Rodriguez’s as well. The “Daddy’s Home 2” star’s statement, which you can read here, was made exclusively through TheWrap.

Also Read: Mark Wahlberg Denies Steroid Ring Involvement: 'These Accusations Are Completely False' (Exclusive)

Rodriguez pointed the finger at Reigns and Wahlberg last week during a phone interview from the Brooklyn Detention Center in New York, where the former steroid-pusher is incarcerated.

“I’m not trying to monetize anything at all,” Rodriguez told filmmaker Jon Bravo. “You know, at the end of the day, I’m just trying to clear my name. The bust at my company did not just involve one person — it was a slew of individuals.”

“One of them in-particular is a very famous wrestler by the name of Roman Reigns,” Rodriguez said. “He was originally introduced to me by one of the informants.”

Also Read: WWE 'SmackDown Live' Tag Team Champion Jey Uso Arrested for DWI

The former owner of Iron Addicts gym in Miami said he is naming Reigns specifically because it came out through the “discovery” process in his case that Reigns spoke with investigators. The New Jersey DEA, which led the year-long investigation into WFN, did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request to attempt to verify Rodriguez’s claim.

Rodriguez later said there are other WWE athletes he worked with. He plans to name those and more names in a documentary filmed “face-to-face” at the prison, which it sounds like Bravo will direct.

In June 2016, Reigns was suspended by WWE after a first violation of the pro-wrestling promotion’s wellness policy. His punishment was 30 days off and the loss of his WWE Championship.

Also Read: Roman Reigns Violated WWE Health Policy, So Why Did He Fight Anyway?

Nine people were arrested in February 2017 “for operating an international steroid distribution ring” — Rodriguez was the big fish among them. Read the Eastern District of New York’s media release from back then here.

Rodriguez took a plea deal and never went to trial, he said on the call from prison.

Watch the interview here:

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