Gian Villante granted retroactive exemption for inhaler, cleared for Shogun fight

UFC veteran Gian Villante has officially been granted a therapeutic-use exemption for an inhaler, and is now cleared to fight Shogun Rua at ‘UFC Fight Night: Fortaleza’ on March 11th. While the bout order has not been made official, reports have indicated that the fight will serve as the co-main event.

Villante made his use of Breo Ellipta inhaler known during a random out-of-competition drug test back in January, which resulted in a failed drug test. While the substance from the inhaler he tested positive for, vilanterol, is banned by USADA both in-cometition and out-of-competition, he has now been granted a retroactive exemption.

MMAJunkie obtained a statement from USADA on the matter, which in part read:

“Following his disclosure, USADA advised Villante that absent a valid TUE, the use of the inhaler was prohibited under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Thereafter, Villante submitted a TUE application documenting that his physician prescribed a 14-day course of the inhaler to treat conditions associated with airflow restriction and asthma.”

“Upon a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Villante’s use of vilanterol, which included the retroactive TUE application process, USADA determined that the athlete had an unequivocally diagnosed acute medical condition for which the use of vilanterol is consistent with the standard of care,” USADA’s statement read. “Further, it was determined that the short-term use of the Breo Ellipta inhaler was within the manufacturer’s therapeutic recommendation and was intended to return the athlete to a normal state of health without providing a performance-enhancing benefit. Finally, other permitted therapeutic alternatives were not successful at controlling the athlete’s condition.”

“Because Villante’s TUE application was granted retroactively, his declaration of a prohibited substance and his subsequent positive test will not result in an anti-doping policy violation. Accordingly, Villante remains eligible to compete on the UFC Fight Night Card in Fortaleza, Brazil.”

on 2/24/2017.