Ali Abdelaziz and Islam Makhachev
UFC Coach Reveals Possible Loophole in IV Use, Stops Short of Labeling Islam Makhachev a Cheat
Questions surrounding Islam Makhachev’s recent UFC victory have surfaced, with allegations of the fighter’s use of a banned IV drip before his title bout against Alex Volkanovski.
While Alex Volkanovski’s coach, Eugene Bareman, refrains from explicitly branding Makhachev a cheat, he suggests that Makhachev might have had an advantage against Volkanovski in their UFC 284 encounter.
Makhachev secured a thrilling victory at UFC 284, successfully defending his lightweight belt and improving his career record to an impressive 24-1. However, post-fight allegations emerged, tarnishing his achievement, as it was speculated that he illegally used an IV drip for rehydration after cutting weight for the fight.
Dan Hooker, another fighter under Eugene Bareman’s tutelage, made his concerns about the fight and Makhachev’s actions known on Twitter, adding fuel to the brewing controversy. Subsequently, the coach himself addressed the ongoing drama, suggesting that Makhachev might have exploited a loophole in the regulations that could have allowed him to use an IV drip legally before the fight.
Eugene Bareman, who also coaches Alex Volkanovski, clarified his stance on the matter, stating, “The information falls short because for several reasons, and one of them is that you can actually take an IV before a fight. It just has to be 100ml of saline every 12 hours, in a 12-hour block.”
While Bareman has his doubts about the situation, he acknowledges that it would be challenging to definitively prove whether improper use of an IV occurred, whether by Makhachev or his training partner Zubaira Tukhugov.
Using an IV drip to rehydrate was once commonplace in combat sports, but it was banned in UFC in October 2015, following a decision by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The ban was instituted due to concerns that IV drips could facilitate excessive weight-cutting and potentially be employed to mask the use of performance-enhancing drugs. UFC fighters now face potential bans of up to two years for the unauthorized use of IV drips.
Amidst the aftermath of Islam Makhachev’s triumphant UFC 284 title defense against Alex Volkanovski, questions have arisen regarding the alleged use of a banned IV drip by Makhachev before the fight. While Makhachev secured a thrilling victory, the victory has been marred by claims that he improperly used an IV drip for rehydration after weight-cutting.
Eugene Bareman, the coach of Alex Volkanovski and a renowned figure in the UFC, has refrained from explicitly labeling Makhachev as a cheat. However, he has raised concerns about the advantage Makhachev might have gained in their encounter.
The controversy gained momentum when UFC lightweight Dan Hooker, another fighter coached by Eugene Bareman, expressed his views on the situation on Twitter. In response, Bareman himself addressed the ongoing debate, shedding light on the regulations regarding IV drips.
Bareman noted that there might be a regulatory loophole that could have allowed Makhachev to legally use an IV drip before the fight. According to Bareman, fighters can use a saline solution via an IV drip, but this can only be administered in 100ml doses every 12 hours. He pointed out the ambiguity in determining whether someone on Makhachev’s team had exceeded the 100ml limit or used an IV drip improperly.
Bareman expressed his doubts but emphasized the difficulty of establishing definitive proof regarding the use of IV drips, whether by Makhachev or his training partner, Zubaira Tukhugov.
It is worth noting that IV drip use for rehydration was once a common practice in combat sports but was banned in UFC in October 2015 due to concerns related to weight-cutting and the masking of performance-enhancing drugs. UFC fighters can face bans of up to two years for the unauthorized use of IV drips, reflecting the seriousness of the issue.
More UFC news
Follow our dedicated UFC page for instant UFC news and updates