Welterweight Contender Paulo Costa Receives Six Month Of USADA Suspension
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa’s long-standing case with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) finally has some answer.
Earlier today USADA announced that Paulo Costa accepted six months of suspension for the use of IV twice back in 2017. The first incident happened in June 2017 where Brazilian consumed before his UFC 212 win against Oluwale Bamgbose. The second unauthorized dose found in his system in November 2017 before his victory over Johny Hendricks.
Costa’s coach Carlos Costa also receives a six-month suspension for administering an IV.
“USADA announced today that UFC Athlete Paulo Costa and one of his Athlete Support Personnel, Carlos Costa, of Contagem, Brazil, have each accepted a six-month sanction for violations of the UFC® Anti-Doping Policy for use and administration, respectively, of a prohibited method.
“Based on video and other corroborating evidence, USADA determined that on June 2, 2017, Paulo Costa, 27, received an intravenous infusion (IV) of permitted substances, including saline solution and a stomach medication, of more than 100 mL per 12-hour period after weigh-in for UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). On November 3, 2017, Paulo Costa again received an IV infusion of permitted substances of more than 100 mL per 12-hour period after weigh-in for UFC 217 in New York City, New York, without a TUE.
“Both infusionswere administered by Carlos Costa.”
According to USADA Paulo Costa’s suspension began August 2018 and ended on February 10, 2019, so that means he’s eligible to return to Octagon right away.
Brazilian also received a financial penalty for the use of IV.
“Paulo Costa’s use of a prohibited method on June 2, 2017 also falls under the jurisdiction of the Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA), which has recognized USADA’s sanction and will additionally fine Paulo $4,000 (1/3 of the UFC 212 purse), all of which will revert to his opponent in UFC 212. In addition, the New York State Athletic Commission has resolved Paulo Costa’s case arising from the November 3, 2017, IV with no period of ineligibility and a $9,333.33 fine (1/3 of the UFC 217 purse). Neither Commission will impose any additional sanction on Carlos Costa.”
Costa was supposed to fight Yoel Romero at the UFC Fight Night 150 this weekend but that USADA issue kept him away from competing on that card. Brazilian is currently undefeated in the MMA, and he last fought back in July 2018 where he scored a second-round TKO win over Uriah Hall at UFC 226.
