UFC strawweight Amanda Ribas can finally make her debut in the promotion.
Amanda Ribas is no longer under suspension by USADA.
USADA has lifted the UFC strawweight’s two-year sanction, the UFC’s anti-doping partner announced Friday.
Ribas tested positive for the banned substance ostarine before even making her promotional debut in June 2017. She was suspended two years in January 2018, retroactive to when the drug test was administered. Ribas would have been eligible to return next month.
Ribas was unable to identify the source of her failed test, according to a press release, but USADA determined the trace amounts of ostarine found in Ribas’ system was consistent with supplement contamination. Therefore, the agency “believes it is fair to allow Ribas to return to competition after serving the majority of her two-year sanction.” Four negative tests followed Ribas’ one positive test, per the release.
“The termination of Ribas’ sanction reflects USADA’s recognition of the demonstrated prevalence of ostarine in a wide range of supplement products used by athletes and that ostarine has frequently been found as a product contaminant,” the release read.
The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) also suspended Ribas two years. Per the release, USADA has informed the commission of its decision to reduce Ribas’ suspension.
Four fighters — Nicco Montano, Sean O’Malley, Augusto Mendes, and Marvin Vettori — were recently suspended six months by USADA after it determined their positive tests for ostarine were likely a result of a contaminated supplement. Similarly to Ribas’ case, none of the four fighters were able to determine the source of the positive test.