After all that, Cyborg is free to return to the Octagon.
Just before last Christmas, the UFC dropped the bombshell that Cristiane Justino was notified of a potential USADA violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test administered on December 5.
The knockout monster was staring down the barrel of a lengthy as if proven guilty, it would have marked her second drug violation. Her Strikeforce win over Hiroko Yamanaka in 2011 was overturned after she tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. She was stripped of her featherweight belt and never fought for the promotion again.
However, the official USADA website have confirmed that she is clear to fight immediately after being granted a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for Spironolactone, the banned substance she popped for.
Hint of a smile from the UFC president? https://t.co/KPDXjWhlx7
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 23, 2016
Cyborg appealed the positive test result by explaining her doctor prescribed the drug to treat an endocrine condition. Following a series of interviews and investigations, USADA granted her a retroactive exemption for the substance.
“In the case of Justino, the application for a TUE was granted because the athlete had an unequivocally diagnosed chronic medical condition for which the use of Spironolactone is the appropriate standard of care. Further, it was determined that the athlete and her medical team pursued and exhausted all non-prohibited alternatives and that the low dose of the medication is consistent with best medical practice to treat her condition and would return the athlete to a normal state of health without providing a performance-enhancing benefit.”
Since the failed drug test, the UFC introduced a women’s featherweight division, the weight class Cyborg was champion of in Invicta and Strikeforce. Germaine de Randamie won the inaugural championship after beating Holly Holm to a highly controversial decision at UFC 208.
However, with de Randamie likely to sit on the sidelines for an extended period to have surgery on her hand, and a rematch against ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ a possibility for her first defence, Cyborg is looking elsewhere for her UFC featherweight debut. She called out Invicta champion Megan Anderson for an interim title fight.
#ufc212 let's go @MeganA_mma if @IronLadyMMA needs surgery you're #4 in the world and Interim @InvictaFights champ. pic.twitter.com/CRaY3xiWN1
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) February 17, 2017
The Aussie powerhouse has been reluctant to agree to a bout against Cyborg due to the fact that she wasn’t clear to fight. With the situation changed, perhaps the two could be duking it out inside the Octagon soon.
Dana states Cris fights GDR next & she needs time to sort USADA deal out. I want to stay active & fight ladies who are cleared to fight now https://t.co/dO0xPGYPpr
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) February 12, 2017
