Jessica Penne Accepts Eighteen-Month Suspension For Anti-Doping Violation

Jessica Penne has accepted an eighteen-month suspension from the USADA over her positive test for an unspecified steroid. USADA announced on Friday that Penne has accepted the suspension for her positive test of an anabolic androgenic steroid of exogenous origin for an out-of-competition test conducted on March 20th of last year. The sample initially game back negative but a review of her her Athlete Biological Passport revealed irregularities in the test, which was retested and found to be positive.

Penne told USADA after being flagged that she was prescribed dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an exogenous anabolic agent, by her doctor. USADA stated in the announcement that the suspension is retroactive to April 23rd and noted:

“Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, as well as the World Anti-Doping Code, an athlete’s period of ineligibility for using a prohibited substance may be decreased if the athlete lacks significant fault for the anti-doping policy violation. In this instance, although Penne was not successful in her attempt to obtain a retroactive or prospective Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for DHEA after her positive test, it was determined that her degree of fault was reduced because her use of the prohibited substance was under the care of a physician. Accordingly, Penne received a corresponding reduction to 18-months from the standard two-year period of ineligibility for a non-Specified Substance under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”