ACA President Magomed Bubulatov revealed that more fighters in his league use performance-enhancing drugs than compete clean. He stated that fighters taking bouts on short notice are typically clean because they have no time to apply banned substances. Bubulatov disclosed that ACA has been testing fighters and has data on who uses more or fewer prohibited drugs, though he has not yet decided whether to publicly name violators or continue the testing program. He explained that doping control is financially expensive and suggested Russian promotions should unite to share costs, though he doubts other leagues would participate. ACA initially gave fighters six months to clear their systems and allowed some therapeutic drugs before starting tests.
ACA President Magomed Bubulatov has made a striking admission about drug use inside his organization, stating publicly that the majority of fighters competing in the Absolute Championship Akhmat use performance-enhancing drugs rather than competing clean.
Bubulatov offered one telling observation about short-notice fighters: those who accept bouts on short notice are typically free of banned substances because they simply do not have enough time to apply and cycle off prohibited drugs before a fight. The comment implies that planned, scheduled bouts are where PED use is most concentrated on the roster.
The ACA president also revealed that the promotion has already been conducting testing and holds internal data identifying which fighters use more or fewer prohibited substances. He said he has not yet decided whether to publicly name violators or whether to continue the testing program at all.
Why it matters
- Bubulatov's candid admission puts ACA among the rare promotions globally to acknowledge widespread PED use by its own leadership
- Cost is the central obstacle: doping control is described as financially prohibitive, and Bubulatov suggested Russian promotions should pool resources to share testing expenses, though he expressed doubt that rival leagues would agree to participate
- ACA's approach at the outset of its testing program included a six-month grace period for fighters to clear their systems and permitted certain therapeutic-use medications before stricter controls began
The financial barrier Bubulatov describes is not unique to Russian MMA, but his willingness to state openly that the majority of his fighters are not clean is unusual candor for any promotion executive. Whether ACA moves forward with publishing violation data or scales back the program entirely remains an open question he says he has yet to resolve.
