Fan points out injection mark on Islam Makhachev, team provides explanation

Dan Hooker recently shocked the MMA community when, following his successful championship defence against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, he accused Islam Makhachev of cheating. Makhachev was charged with using an intravenous (IV) injection to rehydrate himself after the weigh-ins, according to “The Hangman.”

While the camp of the lightweight champion responded to the accusations, some astute spectators noticed significant marks on Makhachev’s arms in pictures taken prior to the match. Rizwan Magomedov, the co-manager of the 31-year-old Dagestani, has provided an explanation for these pictures.

Following the publication of a photo of these marks on Islam Makhachev’s arm on Twitter, Magomedov responded with a quote-tweet. He added that the grades were from tests that were required to be taken during fight week.

“AUS commission blood test requirement, Wednesday morning, just before media and picture shoot. Ask Hooker to locate the nurse who is part of the commission; she can attest.”

With the exception of individuals who received an IV “in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations,” the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) prohibited UFC athletes from using IVs in 2019.
In the UFC main event last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Islam Makhachev successfully defended his championship against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski following a difficult five-round contest.

Alexander Volkanovski accused Islam Makhachev of illegal IV usage before Dan Hooker

Dan Hooker, a longtime friend and teammate of Alexander Volkanovski at City Kickboxing, recently attacked Islam Makhachev on Twitter. He asserted that the Dagestanis paid a physician on a private basis to administer the IV fluids.

The 33-year-old New Zealander tweeted several times with the implication that the Dagestani champion had used an IV drip to rehydrate himself after the weigh-ins to cheat. Even though Makhachev’s camp duly refuted the allegations, the situation is still up in the air in the eyes of the larger MMA world.

Volkanovski recently discussed his weight during his superfight with Makhachev and jokedly let it slip that his opponent might have used an IV to rehydrate during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. It’s interesting to note that this interview took place prior to “The Hangman” tweeting his defamatory remarks.

“178-180 lbs. I believe he would have been like that. I’ve heard he can weigh up to 83 kilogrammes. With IVs and such, you refuel rather quickly. That might be a small jab at him.”
Additionally, Islam Makhachev had a positive test for the cardiac drug Meldonium, which boosted blood flow, back in 2016. However, a USADA inquiry found no wrongdoing and spared the reigning lightweight king from punishment.

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