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On the heels of being pulled from her UFC debut due do a potential anti-doping policy violation, Amanda Ribas said she hopes to prove her innocence.
On Thursday, the UFC and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Ribas (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) had been informed of a potential violation and pulled from her promotional debut against Juliana Lima (9-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) next month at the TUF 25 Finale in Las Vegas.
Today, the women’s strawweight told MMAjunkie in a text message she did not knowingly take any illegal substances and still harbors a goal of becoming a UFC champion.
“I have been competing at a high level in judo and bjj since I was very young,” Ribas said in the message. “Recently, I have achieved my dream of fighting in the UFC. I’m completely against any form of cheating in sports, as the use of PEDs. During my whole career I have never made use of any illegal substance, and I did not use anything now. I have no idea as to the origin of my positive test with USADA. I am working with USADA along with my managers and trainers to find out how this happened. I will prove my innocence. I will fight in the UFC and I will become UFC champ!”
Ribas and Lima were set to meet in a women’s strawweight fight at the TUF 25 Finale, which takes place July 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, though the bout order hasn’t been finalized.
Ribas was flagged, USADA said in a statement, for an out-of-competition sample collected earlier this month on June 7. The UFC is seeking a new opponent for Lima so she can remain on the card.
Ribas, who turned pro in 2014, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt. The 23-year-old Brazilian and American Top Team fighter has won six of her seven pro bouts with three knockouts and two submissions.
For more on The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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