Islam Makhachev suspension: The Dagestani fighter failed USADA drug test for banned substance in 2016
Islam Makhachev laid claim to the UFC pound-for-pound top spot by successfully defending his lightweight strap against Alexander Volkanovski. While Makhachev has cemented his place in the history books, the UFC lightweight champion's story is slightly marred by a failed drug test from 2016.
USADA finds Islam Makhachev not at fault for meldonium anti-doping violation mmafighting.com/2016/7/27/1229… https://t.co/C5zeld6F1d
Makhachev was scheduled to face Drew Dober in his third UFC fight in April 2016. However, the booking fell through a day before the event after the Dagestani standout tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium.
While the drug is used to treat ischemia, the World Anti-Doping Organization (WADA) banned it on January 1, 2016 after finding ample evidence of athletes using it to improve performance.
After his failed drug test, Makhachev was provisionally suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), but the suspension was lifted just days later. Ultimately, the Dagestani standout did not face any sanctions as USADA found him to be "without fault or negligence."
The drug was found to have been prescribed to Makhachev following a "radio frequency ablation procedure for frequent ventricular arrhythmia" that he underwent in 2014.
Meldonium became infamous after five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova tested positive for the drug in 2016. Sharapova was slammed with a two-year ban despite insisting that she had been prescribed the drug to combat diabetes and magnesium deficiency.
Islam Makhachev claims Russian athletes were getting Meldonium tablets like vitamins
Russia's systematic state-sponsored history of doping has cost them 48 Olympic medals. With the highest number of competitors caught doping in the Olympic Games (150), Russia administering Meldonium to fighters, prior to the WADA ban, perhaps shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
According to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Russian athletes on the national teams were being handed out Meldonium tablets like vitamins. The Dagestani fighter said in an interview with UFC Russia ahead of his lightweight title win over Charles Oliveira:
"Later I had problems with USADA, I was worried more about that... Even though it was just meldonium. Russian athletes on national teams were getting it like vitamins... Every national team was giving mildronate [meldonium]. I still think it's systemic prejudice against Russian athletes..."
Makhachev also claims that getting flagged by USADA affected him more than his lone career loss.
Catch Islam Makhachev's comments below: