The athletic commission that regulated UFC 284 said it has no evidence that fighters broke its rules by illegally using an IV, but those with information to the contrary are invited to come forward.
” The Combat Sport Commission of Western Australia doesn’t condone cheating in the combat sport industry,” Bob Kucera, Western Australia Combat Sport Commission Chair stated in a prepared statement sent to MMA Fighting.
Controversy broke out on Sunday after UFC lightweight Dan Hooker accused Islam Makhachev of using an IV in connection with the 155-pound champion fight’s against Alexander Volkanovski, his longtime teammate. IV infusions over 100 mL per 12-hour period are banned by UFC anti-doping partner U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, though fighters may exceed that limit if a doctor determines it is medically justified.
Hooker claimed Makhachev, who won this past Saturday’s title fight via unanimous decision, hired a nurse to perform the IV infusion but provided no additional evidence the UFC lightweight champ broke the rules. Rizvan Magomedov (Makhachev’s manager) called Hooker’s claim completely .” Makhachev appear to ignore Hooker’s comments via a Twitter video.
In an interview Wednesday with The MMA Hour, Hooker and Volkanovski’s coach, Eugene Bareman, admitted his team didn’t know whether Makhachev or Makhachev’s teammate, Zubaira Tukhugov, illegally used an IV and couldn’t provide any other details on the alleged infraction.
Makhachev’s other co-manager, Ali Abdelaziz, lashed out at Volkanovski’s team on social media, tweeting “any fighter under the UFC banner can take 2-3 liters of IV as long as it’s done by a nurse or professional” and promised to “expose” unnamed individuals. The message was later removed by him.
The controversy prompted a rush to understand the current rules on IV use – and their potential limitations – given USADA’s ban to prevent the masking of banned substances. Unidentified fighter from MMA Fighting, asked for anonymity, stated that it’s common for UFC fighters to get permission from a doctor in order to use an IV to rehydrate – and to hire a professional to do so.
The UFC sent an email to all its fighters reiterating the USADA’s current IV policy. It stated that it was updated in 2019.. The promotion added fighters were also required to get permission from an overseeing athletic commission to use an IV and then disclose its use afterward.
While the Western Australia Commission did not directly answer the question about Makhachev’s declaration of IV use pre-or post-event, it stated that they have “clear codes” and policies which align with the World Anti-Doping Agency. It also bans intravenous drips .
” The Commission does not have any conclusive evidence to show that an athlete in the UFC 284 competition held at RAC Arena violated WADA’s or commission policies,” Kucera stated. Kucera wrote that the Commission had not received a complaint about any UFC 284 athlete who was present at the RAC Arena event. The Commission welcomes any person with relevant information to contact it
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/17/23604627/western-australia-commission-no-conclusive-evidence-fighters-used-iv-to-cheat-at-ufc-284?rand=96749
