ACA president Magomed Bubulatov gave a candid interview about doping control in the promotion, revealing that more fighters use banned substances than compete clean. Bubulatov stated that fighters accepting bouts on short notice are typically clean because they haven't had time to use performance enhancers. The league began implementing doping controls, giving fighters six months to clear their systems while allowing some therapeutic substances. Bubulatov explained that comprehensive testing is expensive and suggested Russian promotions should collaborate, though he doubts they will. The promotion is still deciding how to punish violators, with Bubulatov initially considering one-year suspensions. He indicated that solving the doping problem alone is financially challenging due to laboratory costs and staffing requirements.
Absolute Championship Akhmat president Magomed Bubulatov has acknowledged in a candid interview that doping is widespread within the promotion, admitting that more fighters in the league are using banned substances than are competing clean.
Bubulatov offered a rare look inside the organization's approach to anti-doping enforcement, revealing that ACA has begun implementing testing protocols but granted fighters a six-month window to clear prohibited substances from their systems before enforcement began. Certain therapeutic-use substances are being permitted during this transition period.
One detail Bubulatov shared stands out as a telling reflection of how normalized doping has become at the organizational level: fighters who accept bouts on short notice are considered likely to be clean, simply because they have not had enough time to cycle off performance-enhancing substances before competing.
Why it matters
- ACA's admission places the scale of doping in Russian MMA under direct scrutiny at a time when global anti-doping standards are tightening.
- The six-month clearance window raises questions about the integrity of results recorded before formal testing was introduced.
- Bubulatov floated one-year suspensions as a potential punishment for violators, though no final policy has been announced.
- The financial burden of comprehensive laboratory testing and dedicated staffing may limit how rigorous enforcement can realistically become.
Bubulatov suggested that Russian promotions should pool resources and collaborate on anti-doping infrastructure, though he expressed doubt that such cooperation would actually materialize. The cost of running a credible testing program, he noted, is a significant barrier for any single promotion to shoulder alone.
The promotion has yet to finalize its disciplinary framework for confirmed violations, leaving the consequences for fighters who test positive still undetermined as the league works through both the logistical and financial challenges of building a functional anti-doping operation.
