Calvillo, Cutelaba accept 6-month USADA suspensions

Cynthia Calvillo and Ion Cutelaba can get back in the saddle before the year is out.

The UFC strawweight and light heavyweight have accepted six-month bans for their respective violations of the USADA's anti-doping policy stemming from samples collected in late 2017, the agency announced this week.

Calvillo tested positive for elevated levels of marijuana metabolite Carboxy-THC in an in-competition screening conducted on Dec. 30, the day she fell to Carla Esparza by unanimous decision at UFC 219 in Las Vegas. The Team Alpha Male member was facing a maximum ban of one year - as cannabinoids are deemed "specified substances" by the World Anti-Doping Agency - but can see her suspension docked to three months if she completes a "USADA-approved drug awareness and management program." As it stands right now, her retroactive penance expires on June 30.

Cutelaba's ban stems from use of ozone therapy he disclosed on his doping control forms for out-of-competition tests conducted on Oct. 18 and 19. The alternative treatment can be administered via many methods, several of which are forbidden under the UFC's anti-doping partnership with the USADA. Cutelaba's physician later revealed the therapy had been administered by blood transfusion - a practice only allowed with a Therapeutic Use Exemption - on Oct. 3 and 17 when approached by the USADA for more information.

The 24-year-old was facing a ban of up to two years for the transgression, but the USADA ultimately deemed his degree of fault and transparency enough for a six-month suspension retroactive to Nov. 3, the day he was flagged and yanked from a date with Michal Oleksiejczuk that was scheduled for the next day at UFC 217. His penance expires on May 3.

In his last outing, Cutelaba disposed of Henrique da Silva by 22-second knockout at UFC Fight Night 110 in June.