BJ Penn’s return to the UFC has been put on hold.
The former lightweight and welterweight champion was removed from his UFC 199 bout with Cole Miller after being flagged for violating the organization’s new IV ban.
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed BJ Penn of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation,” a UFC statement read. “Penn disclosed the usage of a prohibited method – the use of an IV in excess of 50ml 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.
“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 hasn’t fought since a July 2014 loss to Frankie Edgar and hasn’t won a fight since he knocked out Matt Hughes in 2010.
The 37-year-old released the following statement on his website in response:
“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.”
The IV ban went into effect on Oct. 1, 2015. Per the UFC Anti-Doping Program, the type of IV Penn used is “prohibited at all times, both in- and out-of-competition, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations, without an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption.”
According to USADA, “IVs can be used to change blood test results (such as hematocrit where EPO or blood doping is being used), mask urine test results (by dilution) or by administering prohibited substances in a way that will more quickly be cleared from the body in order to beat an anti-doping test.”
Penn was originally scheduled to fight fellow veteran Dennis Siver, however the German suffered an injury that forced him to withdraw from the bout. Miller was Siver’s replacement.
