According to the Western Australia Combat Sport Commission, the use of intravenous (IV) therapy is not permitted.
Controversy stemmed after Dan Hooker accused lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) of using an IV to rehydrate after weighing in for his title fight against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) at UFC 284. Makhachev retained his belt in a unanimous decision win.
Makhachev’s manager called Hooker’s allegations “completely BS,” and UFC senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky says the Australian commission stated that there is no reliable evidence pointing to Makhachev using an IV. Under the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), there are exemptions for using IVs, but the Perth commission completely bans it.
“I think the Australian commission put out a statement last night saying there’s no credible evidence of him violating any of their rules,” Novitzky said in a chat with UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald. “I think I’ll leave it at that.
“They have a specific rule that IVs are banned completely for rehydration purposes. So it wouldn’t matter the volume, it wouldn’t matter if there was a medical professional involved. Perth bans those IVs.”
Novitzky previously explained those exemptions in a Twitter thread, but clarified that USADA’s rules do not comply with the commission’s.
IVs of less than a total of 100 mL per 12-hour period;
Separate of the UFC ADP rules, athletic commissions require any athlete who receives an IV during fight week to (1) obtain permission from the commission before receiving an IV and;
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) February 16, 2023
the required disclosure of such use to an athletic commission could possibly jeopardize the commission licensing the fight.
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) February 16, 2023
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
Jeff Novitzky: ‘No credible evidence’ Islam Makhachev used IV at UFC 284