Cynthia Calvillo Suspended 6 Months After Testing Positive for Marijuana

UFC strawweight Cynthia Calvillo has accepted a six month suspension from USADA after testing positive for marijuana during her last bout at UFC 219 on Dec. 30, 2017.

USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) announced the news on Wednesday.

“Calvillo, 30, tested positive for Carboxy-THC, the pharmacologically-active metabolite of marijuana and/or hashish, above the decision limit of 180 ng/mL, stemming from an in-competition sample collected on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219 in Las Vegas,” USADA officials wrote in a statement. 

“Cannabinoids are listed as Specified Substances on the WADA Prohibited List. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard sanction for an anti-doping policy violation involving a Specified Substance is a one-year period of ineligibility, which may be reduced depending on the athlete’s degree of fault.”

Calvillo actually lost on the card in a decision to former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.

Calvillo was only given a six month suspension rather than a year but even that can be reduced down to three months if she completes a USADA approved “drug awareness and management” program. Assuming Calvillo goes through with that course, she’d be eligible to compete again as early as March 30.

Because UFC 219 took place in Nevada, Calvillo could also be subject to a separate penalty from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.