Paulo Costa Accepts 6-Month USADA Suspension for IV Use

Paulo Costa and Carlos Costa Accept Sanctions for Violations of UFC Anti-Doping Policy https://t.co/DgM8DwyMRx pic.twitter.com/BXC9vnoppf

— USADA | UFC Anti-Doping Program (@USADA_UFC) April 26, 2019

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Paulo Henrique Costa has accepted a six-month suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after violating the policy prohibiting the use of intravenous infusion of permitted substances.

According to USADA on Friday, Costa has been suspended for six months dating back to August 10, 2018 -- and he is now eligible to compete once again. On two separate occasions in June and November 2017 surrounding his UFC 212 and UFC 217 bouts, Costa required the use of an IV to take medication for his stomach and the saline solution that followed. Costa did not receive any banned substances from the IV uses, but they were both taken within a 12-hour window surrounding the UFC weigh-ins. In order to be allowed to seek such treatment around the day of weigh-ins, a UFC fighter must acquire a Therapeutic Use Exemption. In accordance with USADA policy, athletes can only apply for a retroactive TUE in the event of a medical emergency, and he did not apply for one.

His teammate, Carlos Costa, was also suspended for the same amount of time by USADA. Additionally, P. Costa has been fined by the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA) in the amount of $4,000, accounting for one-third of his purse from UFC 212. He was also fined one-third of his UFC 217 purse by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), totaling $9,333.33. Neither commission will pursue additional sanctions on either man.

USADA's statement regarding Paulo Costa is as follows:

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 infusions were administered by Carlos Costa.

In 2017, IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6-hour period were prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. In 2018, the rule changed with respect to the volume limit to prohibit IV infusions and/or injections of more than 100 mL per 12-hour period, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital treatments, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations.

IV infusions and/or injections received above the limit in any other setting require an approved TUE. If a prohibited substance is administered intravenously or via injection, a TUE is necessary for the substance regardless of volume. Administration of IV infusions over the WADA volume limit, including dietary supplement and vitamin cocktails, provided to athletes for recuperation, recovery, or lifestyle reasons is prohibited at all times without prior TUE approval. In situations of medical emergency, an athlete may apply for a retroactive TUE.