USADA suspends doctor that prescribed IV use for Paulo Costa for two years

USADA announced that a Brazilian doctor that provided IV use to Carlos Costa and Paulo Costa has been given a two-year sanction.  Paulo Costa is a UFC middleweight title contender. 

The suspension relates to an investigation in which in 2017 Dr. Penchel recommended and prescribed prohibited infusions of more than 50 mL per 6-hour period. 

Via USADA press release:

In 2017, IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6-hour period were prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations under the UFC ADP. The UFC ADP has since been amended and now prohibits IV infusions and/or injections of more than 100 mL per 12-hour period with the added exception of those determined to be medically justified and within the standard of care by a licensed physician and administered by a licensed medical professional. Applying the current rules, the 2017 infusions remain in violation of the UFC ADP.

During its investigation, USADA learned that Dr. Penchel recommended and prescribed the 2017 prohibited IV infusions. The UFC ADP applies to Athlete Support Personnel who are directly working with, treating, or assisting any UFC athlete in a professional or sport-related capacity. This includes, without limitation, acting as a manager, coach, trainer, second, corner man, agent, or medical personnel.

The Costa brothers were handed down six-month suspensions as a result of the use of the IVs.  Dr. Penchel encouraged the use of the IV prior to Costa’s fight at UFC 212 against Oluwale Bamgbose and at UFC 217 against Johny Hendricks. 

Payout Perspective:

According to USADA’s web site, the use of IVs “can be used to change blood test results, mask urine test results (by dilution) or by administering prohibited substances in a way that will more quickly be cleared from the body in order to beat an anti-doping test.”  The obvious reason for the rule is to prevent a way for fighters to evade a test by using an IV as a masking agent.  This is the first time that a physician has been issued a sanction under the UFC Anti-Doping Program.