USADA has formally notified the UFC and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino of a potential Anti-Doping violation stemming from a December 5, 2016 sample collection.
The UFC has provided its standard statement with regard to flagged tests. A portion reads:
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed.
Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information or UFC statements will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
Cyborg indicated that she’s on medical treatment. “Everybody knows I’m sick, that I’m recovering from the weight cut I had to do for the fight. What is happening is post-weight cut. Everybody knows I’m sick. They are talking to my doctor to solve this the best way.” (via MMA Fighting) On behalf of Cyborg, Ray Elbe posted on The Underground that she has not tested positive for a steroid. Based on the post, it appears she is working with USADA in turning over all the necessary information from her doctor.
Cyborg has now posted a statement on her web site stating that the banned substance known as “Spironolactone.” It is a potassium-sparing diuretic that prevents the body from absorbing too much salt and keeps potassium levels from getting too low.
Payout Perspective:
Whatever the outcome for Cyborg, this is bad public relations for the fighter and the UFC. For Cyborg, she had been on the positive of the media as she was just made a U.S. citizen and ESPN covered her battle with weight cutting. Yet, this news brings up all of the bad rumors of Cyborg in the past. While many felt that she was bypassed for the inaugural women’s featherweight division in the UFC, it’s clear there was reason which she explains in her web site post. If Cyborg does receive a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption for the prohibited substance, there will be criticism for this as well. If Cyborg does not receive a TUE, it’s likely she will have a suspension coming. MMA Payout will keep you posted.
This should be a permanent ban for her. She has never fought clean her entire career and is a disgrace to the sport.
@d
jumping to conclusions doesn’t mean you are right. There appears to be a valid explanation for the substance use. “Spironolactone also treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome.” Hmm, seems like something that a person would need to take if coming off a brutal weight cut and experiencing health failure due to said cut. Case closed, this is nothing more than USADA abusing their privileges with respect to confidential exposure and fan boys making noise.
Usada sucks and I am surprised WME still use them.
MMA Guru she didn’t disclose it and it also works as a masking agent, not saying she used steroids but it was on her and team to contact USADA for a TUE, it’s not as if her last fight just happened she’s had months to do this.
@mmaguru, you are delusional if you think I am jumping to conclusions and that there is a valid explanation for some sort of error. The only valid explanation here is that she is a life long ped abuser who was nabbed for using a diuretic for masking purposes. She has cheated every single fight she’s been in for her entire career.
You act like this is her first time she’s failed a test. 2x being caught, a jawline like a female bodybuilder, backne, solid muscle, and every other physical trait of a ped abuser proves without question that she is cheating. If you can’t see it, that just goes to show you are the fanboy.
That was also her first random test of the year.