Marcelo Garcia says use of PEDs in jiu-jitsu never translates to success: "You don't need that to be a champ"

It has been well over a decade since the last time that Marcelo Garcia stepped onto the mats in a competitive environment.

Considered to be one of the greatest to ever do it, he decided to walk away from the very highest level in 2011 to divert his attention elsewhere.

The 41-year-old is now set to make an incredible return at ONE 170 on Jan. 24 where he faces Masakazu Imanari at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

A lot has changed about the discipline since the last time that Garcia was dazzling at the very pinnacle of 'The Gentle Art'.

One of the biggest talking points in recent years has been the conversation surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs and the negative impact that they have on the sport.

This is a stance that Marcelo Garcia is very passionate about, speaking in a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show about why he is against it:

"But if steroids, there's any chance to mess with your health, just don't do it. And I'm here to prove and to share the word that you don't need that to be a champ. You don't need that to go there and have the best performance.

"You don't need to do steroids to go there to be able to submit your opponent. You can still go there and put a very exciting match and people want to see you."

Watch the full interview below:

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Marcelo Garcia is confident in his abilities

It may be a long time since Marcelo Garcia competed on the world stage but he's still incredibly confident about his current level.

Though he may have stopped challenging himself against the best, he's continued to train and coach for all of these years.

When he steps back in on Jan. 24, Garcia has a point to prove, and with motivation to be back at his best, fans should be ready for a grappling masterclass between these two ground game technicians.