Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled fight against Abubakar Vagaev after a substance he had used flagged concerns with the UFC. According to his sparring partner Ikram Aliskerovm, Gasanov submitted records of all substances taken over the past six months and tested clean, but a particular compound that remains detectable in the bloodstream for an extended period led the UFC to pull him from the card. Aliskerovm compared the situation to past cases involving meldonium, suggesting the substance was a commonplace supplement rather than a performance-enhancing drug.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been removed from a scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after a substance he consumed raised concerns with the organization, it emerged on June 24.
According to Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerovm, the fighter submitted full records of every substance he had taken over the preceding six months and subsequently tested clean. However, a particular compound that can remain detectable in the bloodstream for a prolonged period prompted the UFC to pull him from the card regardless of those clean results.
Aliskerovm drew a comparison to past cases involving meldonium, the cardiac medication that triggered widespread suspensions in combat sports and athletics after athletes argued it was a widely used, commonplace supplement rather than a performance-enhancing agent. The implication was that the substance at the center of Gasanov's situation falls into a similar category — something routinely taken without intent to gain a competitive edge, yet one that lingers in the system long enough to create a compliance problem.
Why it matters
- The case highlights the difficulty fighters face when legally used supplements contain compounds that have long detection windows under anti-doping frameworks.
- Gasanov's removal leaves Vagaev without an opponent, creating a scheduling gap on the affected card.
- The meldonium comparison suggests the substance may be one familiar in Eastern European athletic circles, where its use has historically been commonplace before regulatory bodies tightened their stance.
No official statement from the UFC or any anti-doping body had been issued at the time of reporting, and the specific substance involved has not been publicly identified. Gasanov has not been formally sanctioned; his removal appears to be a precautionary measure by the promotion rather than a confirmed anti-doping violation.
