ACA President Magomed Bibulatov revealed candidly that more fighters in the league use PEDs than compete clean. He noted that fighters accepting bouts on short notice are typically clean because they "didn't have time to apply anything." The promotion introduced doping control after giving fighters six months to clean their systems and allowing certain permitted substances. Bibulatov stated that while there are clean athletes, the majority violate anti-doping rules. He considered one-year suspensions for violators but noted that implementing comprehensive testing is expensive. Bibulatov suggested Russian promotions should unite to address the issue collectively, though he considers this unlikely to happen.
Absolute Championship Berkut president Magomed Bibulatov has openly acknowledged that the majority of fighters competing in the Russian promotion are using performance-enhancing drugs, offering a candid assessment of the state of anti-doping enforcement in domestic MMA.
Speaking publicly, Bibulatov stated that clean athletes exist within ACA but represent a minority. He suggested a telling indicator of who is competing substance-free: fighters who accept bouts on short notice are generally clean, in his view, because they simply did not have enough time to use banned substances before the fight.
The promotion did implement a doping control program, though not without accommodation. ACA gave fighters a six-month window to clear their systems before testing began and also permitted the use of certain approved substances under the program's framework. Bibulatov acknowledged considering one-year bans for those who violate anti-doping rules but pointed to the significant financial cost of running comprehensive testing as a barrier to stricter enforcement.
Why it matters
- ACA is one of the largest MMA promotions in Russia and a pipeline for fighters who go on to compete in the UFC and other major organizations
- The admission raises questions about the competitive integrity of results and records generated under the promotion
- Bibulatov proposed that Russian MMA promotions collaborate to tackle the issue jointly, sharing the logistical and financial burden of proper doping control
- He expressed doubt, however, that such cooperation between rival promotions is realistic in practice
The remarks are notable for their frankness at an organizational level. Governing bodies and promotions worldwide have long struggled to fund and enforce consistent anti-doping programs, but it is rare for a promotion president to state so directly that violators outnumber clean competitors within his own roster.
