Why Was Islam Makhachev Banned? UFC Champ’s Positive Test for Banned Substance Explained

Reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has had a stellar career. Hailing from the rugged mountains of Dagestan, which has a knack for producing some of the best wrestlers in the world, he, like his friend and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov prides himself on his discipline, respectful conduct, and clean lifestyle.

However, one of the only stains on Makhachev came in 2016, when he tested positive for a PED. This led to some serious questions and charges of him being a drug thief from fans. However, on closer examination, it seems all these charges are unfounded and he is not, in fact, a drug cheat.

The truth behind Islam Makhachev’s PED allegations

Islam Makahchev’s martial arts journey has paralleled Khabib Nurmagomedov. Starting under the tutelage of the latter’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the duo, who grew up a few doors from each other in the same village, trained and excelled in combat sambo. After a successful, undefeated stint in the regional Russian MMA circuit, he followed ‘The Eagle’ to the UFC in 2015, with strong endorsement of both the Nurmagomedovs.

Khabib was already a UFC star, having shown his dominance in four fights at the Las Vegas-based promotion at that time. And from the very beginning, the father and son had predicted that Makhachev would be champion one day. In 2016, after losing his second UFC fight to Adriano Martins via a shocking knockout, Makhachev was set to face Drew Dober in his third fight. However, just days away from the bout, news broke that Makhachev had tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance for UFC fighters.

This failed drug test, of course, put his fight against Dober in jeopardy, and he was handed a suspension, both of which are standard practices following a PED violation. However, Makhachev was later cleared of all wrongdoing, and the investigation revealed details exonerating the Dagestani. However, it is important to remember that it had been added to the list of banned substances only three months before Makhachev tested positive for it.

“After a thorough review of the case, USADA concluded that the extremely low meldonium concentration in the athlete’s urine sample, combined with the athlete’s explanation of use, was consistent with ingestion prior to the substance being officially prohibited on January 1, 2016,” the USADA statement said.

After a thorough investigation, Makhachev was determined to have used the substance before it had been banned three months ago and thus concluded that the Dagestani had, in fact, not intentionally violated any rules. However, the stain of a positive test sticks to one’s career like white on rice, especially when you have someone like Conor McGregor reminding you of it now and then.

Conor McGregor took a shot at Makhachev over positive drug test

Last October, Islam Makhachev caught Alexander Volkanovski with a spectacular head kick to knock ‘Volk’ out in their UFC 294 rematch and emerged as the new pound-for-pound king of the UFC in the subsequent rankings. And this did not go down well with Conor McGregor. The Irishman, as the whole UFC world knows, has no love for Khabib Nurmagomedov and his Dagestani acolytes (including Makhachev) since their historic UFC 229 clash, after which chaos broke out.

McGregor seemingly couldn’t bear the thought of Nurmagomedov’s protege and successor being adjudged the best fighter in the promotion. To try and rain on the Dagestani’s parade, McGregor tweeted a picture of Makhachev sprawled on the floor, one knee still bent at an odd angle, immediately being knocked out by Adriano Martins. In addition, there was a screenshot of an article about his positive drug test, followed by some choice words, mocking him for the knockout and calling the Dagestani a drug cheat.

“Ko’d unconscious and caught on steroids. MMA’s current p4p no1. What a sport,” McGregor wrote in a now-deleted tweet along with the images. The Irishman does not seem to tire of reminding Makhachev of his humiliating loss, as he referenced it yet again earlier this month when making predictions for the reigning lightweight champion’s UFC 302 clash against Dustin Poirier.

Contrary to the widespread prediction of Makhachev using his world-class wrestling to stifle and defeat Poirier on the ground, ‘Mac’ picked his old rival ‘The Diamond’ to stop Makhachev via a knockout. His reason? Makhachev’s loss to Martins via step-back check hook at UFC 192. And Poirier, another southpaw (and one of the best boxers in the UFC), seems perfectly poised to pull it off.

What do you think about the whole affair? Is McGregor right to still accuse Makhachev? And what do you make of the UFC 302 prediction? Let us know in the comments.