Fresh off the heels of former UFC female title challenger Jessica Penne getting busted by USADA, the UFC’s drug testing partners have flagged another UFC female for an illegal substance found in her system.
A little more surprising is that this lady was popped and suspended for two years, before ever even making her debut in the UFC.
USADA released a statement on the matter:
USADA announced today that UFC athlete Amanda Ribas, of Coconut Creek, Fla., has tested positive for a prohibited substance and accepted a two-year sanction for her anti-doping policy violation.
Ribas, 24, tested positive for ostarine following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on June 7, 2017. Ostarine is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Ostarine, also known as MK-2866 and Enobosarm, is a non-FDA approved selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is illegally sold in the United States and worldwide as a performance-enhancing substance. Ostarine is not currently available as a prescription medication in any country, and its unauthorized use may carry serious side effects. More information about the risks of ostarine can be found through a USADA athlete advisory.
Ribas’ two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a first offense involving a non-Specified Substance, began on June 7, 2017, the date her positive sample was collected. As a result of her positive test, Ribas was removed from the Card for the Ultimate Fighter Finale in Las Vegas, Nev., scheduled for July 7, 2017. Ribas’ positive test also falls under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which may impose additional sanctions, including fines or a period of ineligibility that is longer than the period set forth above.
Pursuant to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, all UFC athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation are required to remain in the USADA registered testing pool and make themselves available for testing in order to receive credit for time completed under his or her sanction.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (https://ufc.USADA.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (https://ufc.globaldro.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.
