ACA president Magomed Bibulatov candidly discussed drug testing challenges in an interview, stating that more fighters use performance-enhancing drugs than compete clean. Bibulatov revealed that fighters accepting bouts on short notice are typically clean because "they didn't have time to use anything." ACA initially gave fighters six months to clear their systems and allowed certain permitted substances, but enforcement remains challenging. The organization has data on which fighters use prohibited substances more or less. Bibulatov expressed uncertainty about how to handle violators, considering one-year suspensions but noting that comprehensive testing is expensive and would require collaboration across all Russian promotions, which he considers unlikely. He acknowledged this is a systemic problem that cannot be solved by one promotion alone.
