It appears that certain versions of ozone therapy are against USADA rules.
USADA has brought down punishment upon another UFC fighter, but this one really isn’t that bad. Light Heavyweight Ion Cutelaba was handed a six-month suspension related to ozone therapy he was undergoing. Apparently WADA has issues with some forms of ozone therapy, including when it involves a blood transfusion.
That’s the type of alternative medical treatment that Cutelaba was undergoing, and while he was up front with USADA and declared it, he didn’t know that what he was doing was against the rules. So instead of the full two-year ban, USADA handed him half a year instead.
USADA explained themselves in a release:
“The WADA Prohibited List prohibits the administration or reintroduction of blood or red blood cell products of any origin or quantity in the circulatory system, unless a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption has been obtained. While Cutelaba was unaware of the violation and declared the treatment on his doping control paperwork, he was unable to refute the documentation provided.”
The 24-year-old Cutelaba (13-3, 1 NC, 2-2 UFC) is coming off a 22-second KO win over Luis Henrique last June. He was suspended on November 3rd and pulled from a UFC 217 fight right before the weigh-ins. He will be eligible to return on May 3rd.