Shortly after Cris Cyborg was controversially granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) granted UFC light heavyweight Gian Villiante gets one too.
Villante failed a Januay 18 out-of-competition drug test, but made sure to disclose the use of an Breo Ellipta inhaler. The inhaler caused the positive drug test for vilanterol, a banned substance.
You can see an excerpt from the press release below.
“Upon a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Villante’s use of vilanterol, which included the retroactive TUE application process, USADA determined that the athlete had an unequivocally diagnosed acute medical condition for which the use of vilanterol is consistent with the standard of care. Further, it was determined that the short-term use of the Breo Ellipta inhaler was within the manufacturer’s therapeutic recommendation and was intended to return the athlete to a normal state of health without providing a performance-enhancing benefit. Finally, other permitted therapeutic alternatives were not successful at controlling the athlete’s condition.”
Villante, the #12-ranked UFC Light Heavyweight, will take on #6 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC Fight Night 106 in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil at Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste on March 11.
