According to her coach, top Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight
Mayra
Bueno Silva should be ready to return to competition sooner
than later.
On July 15, Silva secured the biggest win of her pro career by
submitting Holly Holm
with a ninja choke in their main event of UFC on ESPN 49. However,
the Brazilian
announced in August that she had failed her post-fight drug
test, breaking the news before it spread from other sources. Silva
claimed that she did not intentionally violate the U.S. Anti-Doping
Agency ban on the substance, later determined to be ritalinic acid,
a stimulant also known as Ritalin or Concerta. She stated that she
took the prescribed medication to treat her ADHD, and that she
stopped taking it a week before the fight to let it clear out of
her system.
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Sherdog spoke to Silva’s coach at American Top Team, Marcos da
Matta, more famously known as “Parrumpinha,” who discussed her
situation. Da Matta thanked the UFC for working with them on this
matter, while decrying the punishment levied by the Nevada State
Athletic Commission on his fighter.
“USADA cleared Mayra because she didn’t do anything wrong,” he
said. “She uses the medication for ADHD and always made everyone
aware of that, stopping its use during fight week. She has all the
paperwork to prove it. Now we are waiting for the commission to
make a statement, something that should happen in the next few
days, but we are expecting a six-month suspension. Our lawyer will
try to reduce this punishment as much as possible.”
On Thursday, the commission extended her temporary sentence, as the
investigation is still ongoing. It is unclear if Silva or her team
sought a therapeutic use exemption for the substance. Despite
anticipating a punishment, “Parrumpinha” was pleased with the UFC’s
support, as they confirmed that Silva remains a potential contender
for the vacant bantamweight title.
“[The UFC is] providing full support. They told us they wouldn’t
remove Mayra from the rankings and that they want her to compete
for the title. Now we just need the commission to announce how long
is suspension, as that will define the next step for the title
bout,” da Matta concluded.