mma / News

UPDATED: B.J. Penn Pulled From UFC 199 For USADA Violation

May 24, 2016 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas

UPDATE: BJ Penn released the following statement on the situation…

“I voluntarily disclosed to USADA that during a non-fight period that I had an IV administered under the care of a doctor.

The rule for IV usage had changed since my last fight in the UFC and was unaware of the change and voluntarily disclosed the information to USADA. I had no idea that IV use was banned 365 days a year.

At no time in my career in martial arts have I ever doped and anticipate all test results from USADA will come back clean and will be working with the UFC to get the matter cleared up and return to fight as soon as possible.”

ORIGINAL: B.J. Penn will not be facing Cole Miller at UFC 199 after all. The UFC announced today that Penn has been pulled form the card and suspended after disclosing IV use, which is banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

The UFC’s statement reads, “The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed BJ Penn of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. Penn disclosed the usage of a prohibited method – the use of an IV in excess of 50 ML in a six-hour period – during a March 25, 2016, out-of-competition sample collection. In accordance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Penn has received a provisional suspension, and has been removed from his scheduled bout against Cole Miller on June 4 in Los Angeles.”

It continued, “UFC will announce a replacement opponent for Miller shortly, and additional information will be provided by USADA and UFC at the appropriate time as the process involving Penn moves forward.”

Penn was set to return to competition at the event. The full terms of his suspension will be determined at a later date.

article topics :

BJ Penn, UFC 199, Jeremy Thomas