Before Islam Makhachev became the UFC lightweight champion, the Dagestani fighter was flagged by the USADA in March 2016 after failing a drug test. Makhachev tested positive for the performance enhancing drug meldonium and was removed from a bout against Drew Dober.
Meldonium is a metabolic modulator that aids athletes in performance and recovery by improving oxygen transport to the muscles. It was the same drug that got Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova suspended for 15 months. Sharapova claimed that she was prescribed the drug because of magnesium deficiency and diabetes.
But while Sharapova got a long ban, Makhachev was cleared of any wrong doing after three months because it was deemed that he took it without ‘fault or negligence’. It turned out that Islam was prescribed the drug prior to its ban as a preventive measure against a potential relapse of a medical condition. It was learned that Makhachev underwent a ‘radiofrequency ablation procedure for frequent ventricular arrhythmia.
A couple of years ago, Makhachev’s UFC Fight Night 202 opponent Bobby Green accused him of doping.
“I was f**king around on my YouTube right, and I found this little video and it said Islam had a little trouble with drugs. But I don’t see people talking about him. He was saying that when he first came over, his school that trained him in Russia, they just gave him vitamins. They’ve been doing this since…. who knows when?” said Green.
Makhachev however, has never failed a drug test since he was caught. In another interview, Green said it was impossible for Makhachev to get caught again because he trains in Dagestan and no crazy drug tester would climb the mountain of Dagestan just to take a piss sample from Islam. The UFC lightweight king however did not let Green’s accusations affect him. Instead, he knocked out the former King of the Cage lightweight champion inside one round.