Islam Makhachev is preparing to come back in June following an emphatic win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294. However, to return to active competition, fighters have to get drug tested, and it seems the lightweight champion recently had his first test since the end of the partnership between UFC and USADA.

The reigning lightweight champion is currently out of action due to Ramadan. However, that has not stopped him from doing the things he is obligated to do as an MMA fighter and an athlete. Makhachev has already planned when he wants to fight this year, and now he has enlisted himself in the drug testing process with Dana White‘s promotion’s new partner.

Islam Makhachev had his first 2024 drug test

While fans are eager to see Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s protégé back in action, Islam Makhachev provided an update on Instagram, giving us an indication that he has started preparing for his UFC return. The Dagestan native posted a story on his Instagram account, showing that he had his first drug test with Drug Free Sport International, which became the successor of the USADA as the UFC’s new anti-doping testing agency on New Year’s Day of 2024.

It will be interesting to how what the outcome of the drug test ends up being since Rafael dos Anjos reminded Islam Makhachev about his failed drug test in 2016. Fans and MMA pundits would hope to see Makhachev not repeat that mistake again. While we have talked about the champion’s failed drug test, let us take a look at what it was all about.

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Makhachev’s failed drug test in 2016

While talking about the best P4P fighter in UFC, Rafael dos Anjos preferred Jon Jones over Islam Makhachev. While ‘Bones’ had his own troubles with banned substances, the former champion pointed out that even the reigning lightweight champion also found himself on the wrong side of a drug test as well.

Islam Makhachev was set to face Drew Dober in 2016. It was supposed to be his third fight under the UFC banner. However, he received a visit from USADA officials for an out-of-competition drug test. It appeared that Makhachev had a banned substance in his samples called Meldonium. This led to the fight falling off and the Dagestan native getting slapped with a provisional suspension, which was listed a few days later.

Islam Makhachev has established himself as one of the biggest stars of the UFC of late. But the drug test failure and multiple allegations of using banned substances may put doubt in the fan’s mind regarding his credibility as a champion, which was the same with Jon Jones. We will have to wait and see what the drug test results turn out to be as we wait for Makhachev to get back into action.

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