Cynthia Calvillo receives nine-month suspension, fine from Nevada Athletic Commission for marijuana failure

Cynthia Calvillo will face some extra time on the sidelines courtesy of the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) for her positive UFC 219 drug test for marijuana.

Less than a week after Calvillo accepted a six-month suspension from USADA, the 30-year-old strawweight contender was issued an additional nine-month suspension by the NAC at a Tuesday meeting in Las Vegas. The nine-month suspension runs concurrently with Calvillo’s USADA suspension, meaning Calvillo will be cleared to return on Sept. 30.

Calvillo was also fined $6,150 — 15 percent of her $41,000 purse — and will be required to submit a clean drug test before seeking relicensure.

NAC officials confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.

Calvillo tested positive for Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — a marijuana metabolite — last December in an in-competition drug screening in relation to her UFC 219 fight against Carla Esparza. Calvillo lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Because Calvillo competed at UFC 219 in Las Vegas, the NAC also has jurisdiction to issue sanctions alongside USADA in drug-testing matters.

Calvillo’s six-month USADA suspension is able to be reduced to three months at the completion of a USADA-approved drug awareness and management program, although that option now appears to be moot, as Calvillo will be required to sit out the entirety of her nine-month NAC suspension before being cleared to compete again.

Calvillo (6-1) is the No. 9 ranked strawweight on the UFC’s official media-generated rankings.