USADA clears ‘Cyborg’ of doping

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency cleared featherweight Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino of a potential policy violation Friday, ending her provisional suspension and allowing her to resume her UFC career.

USADA, which administers the UFC’s doping policy, granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption to Justino for a diuretic commonly used as a masking agent for steroids. Justino failed a doping test in December, but claimed the result was caused by a prescribed medication for an endocrine disorder.

After interviewing the fighter and her medical team, USADA accepted her explanation and granted retroactive permission to use the substance, which means she won’t be punished further.

Justino (17-1) is considered the world’s top 145-pounder and likely the best pound-for-pound female fighter. After Justino flirted with the possibility of a 135-pound fight with former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey for several years, the UFC created a 145-pound featherweight division last year largely to showcase her.

Justino fought twice in her UFC debut last year, stopping two opponents at a 140-pound catch weight. She was expected to compete in the first 145-pound title fight this winter, but she declined the fight, citing the strain of her previous weight cut to face Lina Landsberg in September.

Instead, Germaine de Randamie beat Albuquerque’s Holly Holm by decision last weekend to become the UFC’s first 145-pound women’s champion.