Cristiane “Cyborg’ Justino has been flagged for a doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition test administered December 5th 2016.
This would be Cyborg’s second time failing a drug test. She also failed in 2011 following her bout with Hiroko Yamanaka. After dispatching of Yamanaka in just 16 seconds, Cyborg was flagged for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. She had her license suspended for a year, the result over-turned, and had to pay a $2500 fine.
The UFC issued the following statement:
“The UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on December 5, 2016.
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 has yet to release a statement.
Cris Cyborg and the UFC
A doping violation would be only the latest in a series of difficult events for the 31-year old Justino. Dana White has been openly critical of her inability to make 145lbs on 8 weeks notice, and listed her failure to do so as reasoning for excluding her from the inaugural women’s featherweight championship bout at UFC 208.
White appeared on “UFC Unfiltered” recently and aired his grievances with the current Invicta 145lbs champion.
“What’s crazy about that is, I offered Cris ‘Cyborg’ a title fight at 145 pounds a month ago,” White said. “She had eight weeks to get ready for it. She said she couldn’t make the weight, said she couldn’t make 145 pounds. So then I offered her another 145-pound title fight for Brooklyn, and she turned it down. She turned down two 145-pound title fights – one because she said she couldn’t make 145 pounds in eight weeks. And Joe Silva was like: ‘If she can’t make 145 pounds in eight weeks, 145 isn’t the right weight class for her either.’”
White would continue to say that when Cyborg signed with the UFC she said she would be able to cut down to 135lbs.
With a possible suspension looming, the UFC might decide there is no place for Cyborg in the company anymore. They may have already decided that regardless.
