For the last year, Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino was accused by fans and the USADA of doping and the UFC fighter known as Cris Cyborg faced a lengthy suspension. Good news came today for Cyborg when the USADA announced that they were not suspending the UFC fighter and she can return to fight in the UFC.
The announcement from the USADA said that Cris received a "retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)" and will not fail the December 2016 test after all. This is great news for the UFC, who have faced scrutiny with failed tests by superstars like Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones.
Cris Cyborg to get title opportunity
The biggest thing for Cyborg after this news is that she should be in line for a shot at the brand new UFC Featherweight Championship. For many years, fans wanted to see Cris battle Ronda Rousey but Cyborg refused to drop to the bantamweight division. This new featherweight division was almost made with her in mind.
This month, Germaine De Randamie beat Holly Holm for the first-ever featherweight title in the UFC. There is an argument that Cris Cyborg is the best women's fighter in the world - especially now that Ronda Rousey has crashed back to Earth. This is the best possible fight for the new division.
Doubts remain concerning Cris Cyborg
Of course, the fact that the USADA cleared Cris of the doping violation means little to people who have always cried that Cyborg was a cheater and was doping.
If she stays clean until the featherweight Title Fight and doesn't fail another test, those claims might not stop - but they would be without credit.
The main reason that the first ever title was between Holy Holm and Germaine de Randamie and not between Holy Holm and Cris Cyborg was because of the doping. Holm was a former bantamweight champion and the failed test helped Randamie step in and take the title.
Can Cris Cyborg take advantage of the second chance?
After things looked bleak, Cris is getting a second chance. She has a record of 17-1-0 but has only fought in two UFC fights, winning both of them. She beat Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg and won the fights by TKO. It is now time to see if she is up for a title fight now that there is a belt in her weight class.
Do you think Cris Cyborg can win the featherweight championship? Was her failed drug test a one-time deal?
