M-1 Global middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev discussed Alexander Shlemenko’s doping suspension, as well as Russia’s Meldonium scandal.
On April 9, M-1 Global middleweight champion Ramazan Emeev will step back into the cage against Maiquel Falcao in the second half of the promotion’s four-man Grand Prix tournament. The winner is scheduled to meet former Bellator champion Alexander Shlemenko, who defeated Vyacheslav Vasilevsky at M-1 Challenge 64.
While Emeev would have been happy to meet Vasilevsky in a trilogy fight – Emeev lost his title to ‘Slava’ in M-1 Global’s ‘Fight of the Year’ in 2014 before he avenged that loss with a submission victory last year to reclaim the gold – he would rather match up against a fresh opponent with an international reputation.
“I fought Slava many times and to tell you the truth, I’m tired of fighting him,” Emeev told BloodyElbow. “I want to fight someone else. When you prepare for a different fighter, you look for their strong and weak sides, you work with that and as a result you become stronger. You become a well-rounded athlete because you work on the different aspects. Therefore, a fight with Shlemenko is better option for me as a fighter.”
Emeev’s interest in Shmelenko is not hindered by the latter’s ongoing doping suspension. Instead, Emeev gave the Omsk native the benefit of the doubt because of the easy access to tainted supplements.
“I don’t know what went on with that doping suspension,” Emeev explained. “I was not there and didn’t see if he took something or not. And you know it is hard to find out what you are taking nowadays. You can take some pills for your health, drugs for your liver or heart for example, and then find out that pills contain some ingredients that are forbidden.
The Dagestani native even compared the tainted supplements to the ongoing Meldonium scandal that affected the likes of five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova. Despite the World Anti-Doping Agency’s clear ban on meldonium (brand name Mildronate) on Jan. 1 2016, over 123 positive drug tests have been uncovered since then, with more than 30 Russian athletes using the substance.
“Remember that story with Mildronate? People take it to support their heart usually. The only thing I can say that you don’t need any doping if you have enough time and a good camp to prepare for the fight.”
M-1 Challenge 65 takes place on April 9 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The event will stream for free on M1Global.tv at 11am ET.