ACA president Magomed Bibulatov disclosed in an interview that the majority of fighters in the promotion use performance-enhancing drugs. The organization implemented drug testing protocols six months ago, giving fighters time to clear their systems while allowing certain permitted substances. According to Bibulatov, fighters who accept bouts on short notice tend to be the cleanest, as they "don't have time to apply anything." The promotion is considering year-long suspensions for violators but acknowledges that comprehensive testing is financially burdensome. Bibulatov expressed that solving the PED problem would require collaboration among all Russian MMA promotions, though he doubts other organizations will participate.
Magomed Bibulatov, president of the Russian promotion ACA, has publicly acknowledged that most fighters on his roster use performance-enhancing drugs, making the candid admission in a recent interview.
Bibulatov said the organization introduced drug testing protocols six months ago, though the rollout gave fighters a window to clear banned substances from their systems before enforcement began. Certain permitted substances were allowed during this transitional period, raising questions about how rigorous the initial phase of testing truly was.
Among the more striking observations Bibulatov offered was that short-notice replacement fighters tend to be the cleanest competitors in the promotion, precisely because they do not have time to use anything before stepping in on short notice. The comment underlines just how widespread the problem is believed to be among fighters who have a full training camp ahead of them.
Why it matters
- ACA is one of Russia's largest MMA promotions, meaning the admission touches a significant portion of the regional fighter pool
- The promotion is weighing year-long suspensions for violators, though no formal policy has been confirmed yet
- Bibulatov acknowledged that thorough testing is financially costly, casting doubt on how enforceable any strict policy would be
- He called for a united front among all Russian MMA organizations but expressed skepticism that rival promotions would agree to participate
The broader implication of Bibulatov's remarks is that a coordinated, industry-wide solution may be the only meaningful path forward, yet the competitive and financial incentives working against such cooperation remain substantial. Without buy-in from the wider Russian MMA ecosystem, ACA's internal efforts risk being undermined by fighters who simply move between promotions to avoid scrutiny.
