UFC athlete Melissa Gatto has been hit with a one-year suspension by USADA after testing positive for a diuretic earlier this year.
She has yet to step into the octagon, but UFC bantamweight Melissa Gatto has already been hit with a year-long suspension. On Thursday, USADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy) announced in a press release that Gatto (6-0-2) had accepted a one year sanction after testing positive for diuretic/masking agent Furosemide back in June.
The out-of-competition drug test took place June 5, 2019. It came just weeks out from a scheduled bout that never transpired against Julia Avila. That was to have taken place at UFC 239 in July, and was the second bout Gatto had dropped out of since joining the UFC, with a UFC 237 fight against Talita Bernardo also falling through.
Gatto, incredibly, has had no less than five straight fights fall through since 2018. Her last bout came against Karol Rosa, who has since joined the UFC as well, in September of that year. Gatto won the fight via a kimura.
Furosemide is banned at all times under the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy. Gatto will also receive a sanction from the NSAC, as the drug test in question fell under their jurisdiction.
Gatto had previously announced the failed test, telling MMA Fighting earlier this year that she wanted to test her supplements, but could not afford the $500 fee.
