It was revealed a little while back that Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos has been pardoned by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for a potential failed drug test.
However, according to a statement issued to Iain Kidd of the Bloody Elbow by USADA, Cyborg didn’t disclose the supplement she failed the drug test for to USADA.
“Her use of the medication was not initially disclosed; but more importantly, once contacted by USADA, she immediately identified the medication as the source of her positive test, submitted all necessary medical information and demonstrated that it was being used for legitimate medical purposes without enhancing her performance. Those are the primary considerations when reviewing any TUE application,” says USADA Communications Manager Ryan Madden.
The substance that Cyborg apparently potential failed the drug test for was spironolactone, which she did not disclose to USADA that she was using prior to the test.
Due to the UFC’s relaxed rules when it comes to the new TUE policies and athlete’s who used banned substances, fighters can now apply for a retroactive exemption if they fail a drug test. If this is what happened with Cyborg, then we all now know exactly how she was able to get reinstated.
Cyborg seemed particularly peeved by Bloody Elbow's Iain Kidd, a nutritional expert who went on to write about the situation. She outright stated that if websites published negative stories about her, she'd no longer grant them interviews.
Fightful.com Managing Editor Sean Ross Sapp pointed out the ridiculousness of the situation, but the Invicta Champion seemed lost on the point.
You can hear Sean Ross Sapp speak more about this situation when he appears on Friday's Fightful MMA Podcast with Showdown Joe Ferraro.
