USADA: Cyborg fully complied around controversial Thailand test
USADA: “Ms. Justino fully complied with the sample collection process. From collection to delivery, the integrity of the sample was secured.”
Non-standard USADA representatives showed up recently in Thailand to collect a sample for testing from UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg; the agents were reportedly detained and eventually released by police. It is alleged that one of them tried to bribe a police officer, and that neither had a suitable visa.
There were suggestions from some quarters that the fighter was somehow trying to avoid the test.
https://twitter.com/criscyborg/status/911428252006100992
In fact, Cyborg willingly provided the sample, and it is on its way to a testing lab, with the chain of custody intact. Her boyfriend Ray Elbe and Phuket Top Team owner Boyd Clarke provided further details in a discussion on The UG.
USADA has confirmed in a statement to Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting that there was nothing untoward about the test, which there wasn’t, at least not by the fighter.
Ms. Justino fully complied with the sample collection process, wrote a USADA spokesperson. From collection to delivery, the integrity of the sample was secured, and it is currently being analyzed by the WADA accredited lab in Tokyo. Athletes’ cooperation in providing a requested sample is critical to ensure all athletes’ right to safe and clean sport is protected.
USADA declined to comment on the incident or the accusations about the testers. However, sources told Raimondi that the organization hired to collect the samples uses World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) protocols and that what happened is being investigated. Obviously, if as alleged a USADA representative tried to bribe police and worked on the wrong visa, it cuts into the credibility of an organization whose credibility must be above reproach.
Cyborg also questioned the impartiality of Kidd, whose tweet started the controversy.
https://twitter.com/criscyborg/status/911774235583905793
Now that Cyborg’s credibility around the test is established, hopefully the other parties involved will follow suit. PED testing is central to the success of the sport at its highest levels, and for that to happen, USADA has to be credible. Transparency around the allegations of police bribery will help ease concerns in this regard.
