ACA president Magomed Bibulatov candidly discussed doping issues within the league in an interview. He revealed that more fighters use performance-enhancing drugs than compete clean. Bibulatov noted that fighters who take bouts on short notice are typically clean because they "didn't have time to use anything." The league gave fighters six months to clear their systems and allowed certain permitted substances. While ACA has been testing fighters and has data on violations, Bibulatov is uncertain how to handle positive tests. He suggested Russian promotions should unite on anti-doping efforts, but acknowledged this is unlikely due to the high costs involved in testing and laboratory work.
ACA president Magomed Bibulatov made a striking admission about the state of doping inside his organization, revealing in a recent interview that the majority of fighters competing in the league are using performance-enhancing drugs rather than competing clean.
Bibulatov offered an unusually candid look at a problem that many promotions prefer to downplay. He noted that fighters who accept bouts on short notice tend to be the exception, suggesting they are typically clean simply because they did not have time to use anything before the contest. The comment implies that among fighters with standard preparation windows, PED use is widespread rather than isolated.
The ACA president said the league has been conducting tests and has accumulated data on violations, but acknowledged uncertainty about how to respond to positive results. He also revealed that the promotion gave fighters a six-month window to clear their systems and allowed the use of certain permitted substances, pointing to a transitional approach rather than an immediate enforcement crackdown.
Why it matters
- Bibulatov's comments suggest systemic PED use in ACA rather than individual violations, raising questions about competitive integrity across the roster.
- The promotion's hesitation over how to punish positive tests leaves fighters and fans without a clear enforcement standard.
- Bibulatov called for Russian MMA promotions to coordinate on anti-doping efforts, but conceded that the significant costs of testing and laboratory work make meaningful cooperation unlikely in the near term.
The remarks highlight a broader challenge facing regional MMA organizations, where the financial burden of rigorous anti-doping programs can outpace a promotion's resources or willingness to act, even when internal data on violations already exists.
