Istela Nunes Accepts Two Year Suspension From USADA

Istela Nunes was supposed to make her UFC debut at UFC Fight Night Mexico City, but would be pulled from the card due to an alleged drug test failure. 

A drug test issued by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) came up positive for multiple stanozolol metabolites and the fighter has now accepted a two year suspension for the failed drug test. Nunes is going to be able to compete again on July 22 of 2021, since the suspension is retroactive to the date of the failed drug test.

USADA issued the following press release on the matter:

Istela Iane Nunes Souza Accepts Sanction for Violation of UFC Anti-Doping Policy

USADA announced today that Istela Iane Nunes Souza, of São Paulo, Brazil, has accepted a two-year sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

Nunes Souza, 27, tested positive for multiple stanozolol metabolites, 16β-hydroxystanozolol and 3′-hydroxystanozolol as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample she provided on July 22, 2019. Stanozolol 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.

Nunes Souza’s two-year period of ineligibility, the standard sanction for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, began on July 22, 2019, the date her positive sample was collected.

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. Many of the resources available to athletes are provided in multiple languages, including Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese.

Along with education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers. USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition. Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by email at playclean @usada.org, by phone at 1 877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253), or by mail.