Islam Makhachev among USADA's most-tested UFC fighters in 2023 along with Jon Jones and Paulo Costa

Following Islam Makhachev's emphatic victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, the Dagestani has been leveled with serious allegations by Dan Hooker. The Aucklander claims that he has substantial evidence that Makhachev used intravenous (IV) therapy to replenish himself after the weigh-ins, which has been an illegal practice since USADA was introduced as the UFC’s anti-doping partner in late 2015.

This past weekend, Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, and scored a hard-fought unanimous decision victory to defend his lightweight title. Hooker, who traveled to Perth to root for City Kickboxing teammate Volkanovski, is convinced that Makhachev cheated to gain an unfair advantage in their upcoming bout. The allegations emerge at a time when narratives are ripe that Volkanvski was perhaps "robbed" by the unanimous decision.

However, MMA reporter Jed I. Goodman has brought to light that Islam Makhachev is among USADA's most-tested UFC fighters in 2023, along with Jon Jones and Paulo Costa. As of today, Makhachev has already been tested four times, much like Jones and Costa.

Check out the tweets below:

After it was announced that Islam Makhachev had tested positive for meldonium in 2016 ahead of his scheduled bout with Drew Dober at UFC on Fox 19, fans were understandably concerned for the Dagestani. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had outlawed meldonium three months earlier. The issue was resolved when Makhachev claimed that his physician recommended taking meldonium "as a preventive measure against a potential relapse," and the Dagestani was subsequently exonerated.

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Islam Makhachev's manager shuts down allegations of IV use leveled by Dan Hooker

Islam Makhachev's camp has responded to allegations made by Dan Hooker that the UFC lightweight champion rehydrated with an IV drip following his weigh-in at UFC 284 by claiming that Hooker's claims are unsubstantiated.

In the wake of Makhachev's victory over Volkanovski by unanimous decision on Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, Volkanovski's teammate Hooker leveled a serious accusation towards the Dagestani.

In response to these charges, Islam Makhachev's manager Rizvan Magomedov issued a statement to MMA Junkie denying any violation by the fighter:

“We all know this is completely BS [bullsh*t]. The guy is a loser. He’s salty and just looking for attention, and that’s it.”

Makhachev and Dan Hooker have previously shared the octagon. At UFC 267, Makhachev handily defeated Hooker. In a crucial fight for Makhachev's career, he faced Hooker, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement and ultimately lost via submission (Kimura Lock) in the very first round.