ACA president Magomed Bubulatov candidly discussed doping issues in the promotion during an interview. He revealed that there are more fighters using performance-enhancing drugs than clean athletes in the organization. Bubulatov noted that fighters who accept bouts on short notice are typically clean because they "didn't have time to apply anything." The promotion has been conducting drug testing for six months after giving fighters time to clear banned substances from their systems. However, Bubulatov admitted that drug testing is expensive and difficult to implement alone, suggesting Russian promotions should collaborate on anti-doping efforts. He expressed uncertainty about how to handle doping violators going forward, though he previously considered one-year suspensions. Bubulatov acknowledged this is a minus for Russian MMA but emphasized the financial burden makes it nearly impossible for one promotion to solve independently.
The president of Absolute Championship Akhmat has made a striking admission about the state of performance-enhancing drug use inside his promotion, stating openly that the majority of fighters on the roster are using banned substances.
Magomed Bubulatov made the remarks during a recent interview, offering a candid look at a problem he acknowledged represents a significant blemish on Russian MMA. According to Bubulatov, clean athletes are actually in the minority within ACA — a remarkable concession from a sitting promotion president. He noted one informal indicator of who tends to compete clean: fighters who accept bouts on short notice, simply because they did not have time to use prohibited substances before the contest.
Why it matters
- ACA is one of Russia's largest MMA promotions, meaning the admission raises broader questions about drug use across the regional scene.
- Bubulatov confirmed testing has only been in place for six months, and fighters were given time to clear substances from their systems before enforcement began.
- The president acknowledged he has not settled on a consistent policy for handling violations, though he previously floated one-year suspensions as a possible standard.
- He argued that no single promotion can realistically shoulder the financial cost of rigorous anti-doping programs, and called for Russian organizations to pool resources on the issue.
Bubulatov's comments reflect a tension common in combat sports at the regional level: the cost of credible anti-doping infrastructure is steep, and the will to enforce consequences is complicated by competitive and financial pressures. His suggestion that Russian promotions coordinate efforts represents a potential path forward, though he expressed genuine uncertainty about how to structure penalties and enforcement going forward.
