ACA President Magomed Bibulatov stated in an interview that more fighters in the promotion use performance-enhancing drugs than compete clean. He revealed that fighters who accept bouts on short notice are typically the cleanest because they don't have time to use any substances. Bibulatov explained that ACA gave fighters six months to clear their systems and allowed certain approved supplements, but testing showed many violations. He noted that drug testing is expensive and suggested Russian promotions should collaborate on anti-doping efforts, though he doubts this will happen. The promotion is currently deciding how to handle violators, with Bibulatov initially favoring one-year suspensions.
The president of Absolute Championship Akhmat has made a striking public admission: more fighters on the promotion's roster use performance-enhancing drugs than compete without them. Magomed Bibulatov made the comments in a recent interview, offering an unusually candid look at the scale of doping inside one of Russia's premier MMA organizations.
Bibulatov revealed that ACA gave fighters a six-month window to clear their systems before testing began, and also permitted certain approved supplements during that period. Despite those accommodations, testing returned a high number of violations, suggesting the problem runs deep within the roster.
One detail Bibulatov highlighted was that fighters who accept bouts on short notice tend to be among the cleanest in the promotion — simply because there is not enough time to run a meaningful doping cycle before competing.
Why it matters
- The admission raises serious questions about the integrity of results inside ACA, one of the most prominent MMA promotions outside the UFC and Bellator.
- Bibulatov acknowledged that drug testing carries significant financial costs, and suggested that Russian promotions should pool resources and collaborate on a shared anti-doping framework — though he expressed doubt that such cooperation would materialize.
- The promotion has yet to finalize its disciplinary policy for violators. Bibulatov indicated he initially favors one-year suspensions, but a formal decision is still pending.
The candid nature of the remarks is notable in a sport where governing bodies and promotions frequently understate or deflect doping concerns. Whether ACA moves forward with meaningful enforcement or the issue remains largely unaddressed will determine how seriously the admission is ultimately taken within the broader MMA community.
