Tag: United States Anti Doping Agency

Former Invicta FC champion and UFC flyweight Jennifer Maia has been handed a six-month suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

The 30-year-old failed an out-of-competition drug test in August. She tested positive for diuretics and masking agents. The substances were traced back to a dietary supplement she took earlier this year. USADA was able to confirm the ingested substances were due to a tainted supplement, thus resulting in the reduced suspension.

USADA released the following statement on the matter:

“During an investigation into the circumstances of her case, opened and sealed containers of a dietary supplement she was using at the time of the August 16, 2018 sample collection, and that she declared on her doping control form, were sent to the WADA-accredited laboratory in Brazil for analysis.

“Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement label, the analysis revealed that both contained the prohibited substances for which Maia tested positive.”

Maia made her UFC debut this past summer in Idaho. She was defeated by longtime UFC veteran Liz Carmouche, ending a six-fight win streak.

The post UFC Flyweight Given USADA Suspension For Tainted Supplement appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

You can put the rumors of the UFC ending their partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to bed.

Recently, UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitzky, joined “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Novitzky joined the program to discuss Jon Jones’ recent drug test abnormality. During the program, Novitzky revealed that the UFC recently re-upped with USADA for 2019. He also noted testing will increase by 30-40 percent (via MMA Fighting):

“The reality, and [USADA representatives] just told me this, is Jon was one of the most, if not the most tested athlete over these last six months when you look at total amount of tests on his samples,” Novitzky said.

“One thing that obviously protected him here was that volume of testing, and so USADA came to us and said, ‘Hey, we think that you probably should up the amount of tests that you’re doing.’ So we just renewed a contract with USADA and we’re increasing our testing numbers by 30 to 40 percent.

“The first three years of the program, we were under contract for approximately 2,700 tests, and starting this next year, we’re going to up that to around 4,300 or 4,400 tests. So I think it’s going to be more of a burden.

“There’s going to be USADA showing up on more doorsteps early in the morning for more of our athletes, but I think this is a perfect example that the increased volume of testing actually can be a protectant to the athlete, especially when you’re talking these low level picogram quantities and contaminated cases, and things like that.”

This should come as welcome news to fighters and fans who want to see a cleaner sport. With recent controversies surrounding the likes of Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar, USADA has also brought along a ton of controversy. Recently, one of Jones’ tests returned an abnormality before his UFC 232 fight with Alexander Gustafsson.

However, the UFC and USADA maintain the banned substance Jones tested positive for were the same traces leftover from his initial failed test last year. Jones suffered a 15-month suspension for his 2017 failed test. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) would not license Jones to fight this weekend.

This prompted the UFC to move the entire card to California from The Forum in Inglewood. Jones will still face Gustafsson in the UFC 232 main event. The winner will be crowned the new 205-pound champion of the world.

The post UFC Says USADA Will Increase Testing By 30-40 Percent In 2019 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.