The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has notified UFC that Diego Brandao tested above the decision limit of 180 ng/mL for Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol (“Carboxy-THC”) which is a metabolite of marijuana and/or hashish.
The sample was collected from an in-competition test taken immediately following his UFC 195 fight on Jan. 2, 2016 in Las Vegas after losing to Brian Ortega.
In-competition is defined as the 12 hours before and after a fight.
The UFC issued this statement:
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Brandao, as it relates to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and future UFC participation. Because the Nevada State Athletic Commission was the regulatory body overseeing the fight in Las Vegas and has state licensing and jurisdiction over Brandao, USADA will work to ensure that the Commission has the necessary information to determine its proper judgment of Brandao’s potential anti-doping violation. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
This is the first (potential) doping violation of Brandao’s mixed martial arts career.
After consulting my handy dandy NSAC guidebook for first time offenders, the Brazilian featherweight faces an 18 month suspension and between 30 and 40 percent of his fight purse.
Despite the fact marijuana isn’t performance enhancing, Nevada takes a dim view of littering and smoking the reefer, initially suspending fighter Nick Diaz for five years for taking prescription Cannabis.
Oddly enough, Brandao also fought last year on the UFC 183 Diaz vs Silva card.