Cynthia Calvillo slams NSAC after nine-month suspension - ‘A lot of them make money off marijuana!’

After Cynthia Calvillo was hit with a six-month suspension by United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) for failing a drug test for marijuana metabolites in her loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 219, the Team Alpha Male (TAM)-trained fighter was then slapped with a nine-month suspension by Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

The bright side for Cynthia is that she can serve both suspensions together, which makes her eligible to return to the Octagon this September. Still, the rising strawweight contender can’t help but to vent her frustrations, saying she did everything by the book and in return, had it thrown at her.

“They tell us, like, they’re comfortable about how much time you would need to be cleared for in-competition testing,” Calvillo said during a recent interview on The MMA Hour (via MMA Fighting).

“The last time I had consumed cannabis was on Christmas Eve, which was the week of the fight. I usually use it for sleeping, I use it for inflammation, I have had my medical card for over two years. It’s something I’ve used especially because I had an injury where I broke arm my three times in a row, and so I use it for the medical component and cannabis, CBD does help heal your bones, she added. “I was also having trouble sleeping for a long time [and it’s] better than using over-the counter stuff.”

For Calvillo, her issues arise from knowing she did everything the correct way, and had she known things would get flipped on her she would’ve refrained from marijuana altogether prior to her bout.

“It’s something that I discussed with [UFC vice president of athlete health and performance] Jeff Novitzky before, even once I got into the UFC in terms of the usage of marijuana. So I’ve done this safely every single fight, I’ve been tested every day the day of my fight and it’s never been an issue before.”

Soon after her suspension was announced, Cynthia lost her sponsorship with the sports drink Body Armor, though a rep for the company didn’t give a specific reason for severing ties.

“I’m the least person you need to worry about,” Calvillo said. “The Nevada commission has fined people six months for (PEDs) but they’re suspending me nine months for cannabis, which is something I use for sleeping or inflammation which is not going to hurt me or my body and not hurt any opponent. ... It’s legal there, there are a lot of people in the commission who are involved in dispensaries and in the business so it just kinda sucks.”

Calvillo went on to reveal that she was in the process of finalizing her bout agreement to face Michelle Waterson before she learned of her USADA violation. As a result, “Karate Hottie” was booked to face Cortney Casey at the upcoming UFC on FOX 29 event on April 14.

Meanwhile, Calvillo is sent to the sidelines without the ability to earn a payday.

“I have to deal with this shit,” Calvillo said. “I was hoping, I was ready to go. I was ready to fight, like I said two weeks when I got the news I was ready to sign my contract to get my next fight going. For me, I dwell on it a little bit, not even then, it feels bad but then motivates me to get straight back to work. It’s kind of like, the fact, right now, too, I was really bummed out when I found out they gave me my nine month suspension, but, it’s like, the show must go on, I’m going continue training and stay busy and hopefully these next six months will pass I’ll back come back stronger than before. Any other time I’ve ever had to be held down and held back I’ve always come back strongly. I just feel bad for whoever I have to fight next.”

What say you, Maniacs, though she’s not quite getting the hammer like Nick Diaz once did, is Calvillo getting a unfair shake from NSAC, especially since its chairman Anthony Marnell makes plenty of cash from several marijuana dispensaries in Nevada?