Amanda Ribas Suspended Two Years By USADA Before Even Making UFC Debut, Ribas Issues Statement
Amanda Ribas was all set to make her UFC debut last year at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, but then the fighter was notified of a potential USADA violation and was pulled from the card.
The yet to debut UFC fighter has now found out her punishment and it comes in the form of a two year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Ribas’ suspension is retroactive to the date of the failed drug test, which means she can return to action on June 7 of next year. It is unknown at this time if the UFC will keep the Brazilian under contract until the suspension is over or if she will get cut.
While the UFC have yet to speak on the punishment, a press release has been issued by USADA and it can be viewed by clicking here.
A now suspended Ribas issued the following statement to MMA Junkie:
“This is Amanda Ribas. I am fighter under contract to the UFC. Recently one of my anti doping tests performed by USADA came out positive for the steroid Ostarine.
“This would have been my debut in the UFC and the fulfillment of my dream!
“Those who know me, know my opinion and thoughts on PEDs. I was a Brazilian National Judo team member, and I am a professional MMA fighter. I have always been completely against any kind of cheating and the use of any of these kinds of products!
“When the test came back positive, I, along with my manager and trainer, gathered all the supplements and medicines I had been using, and sent them to USADA to try to find out how this had shown up in my body. Not only had I not used it, up until that moment, I had never even heard of Ostarine!
“After spending a lot of money on the testing of the supplements (which is paid for by the athlete), we were unable to find Ostarine in any of the products. However, we did find clumbeterol, which also is a forbidden substance, but oddly enough, never showed up in my tests.
“I have never used anything like this in my life, and I feel extremely humiliated and victimized at being punished for something I did not do. The fact that clumbeterol appeared in one of my supplements shows the poor quality and low standards of many of the supplement products on sale in Brazil and worldwide. For sure, I used a supplement that contained traces of Ostarine, but since it never occurred to me that things like this could happen, I must have used it up and thrown it away.
“It happened to me, and it has happened to other Brazilian athletes as well as athletes from other countries. I want to declare my innocence, and leave an urgent warning to all other athletes in Brazil and worldwide. This happens! It represents a huge risk to our lives and our careers! I will make it my mission to tell the world what happened to me, so that maybe I can avoid it happening to somebody else!
“I will serve my suspension, I will train hard, and I will come back and become UFC Champion!”
This suspension dampens what was a fast rise through the Brazilian MMA scene for Ribas, who had earned the majority of her professional MMA wins in either the Jungle Fight or Pentagon Combat promotions. Ribas was also a highly decorated amateur MMA fighter, winning the 2014 IMMAF World Championships, defeating Gabriella Ringblom in the finals.
