UFC’s BJ Penn gets 6-month ban for using IV
UFC veteran BJ Penn has accepted a six-month suspension for violating the organization’s anti-doping policy by receiving treatment through an IV.
Penn admitted the infraction to a sample collector during an out-of-competition test March 25.
Under the policy, which is independently administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, fighters are prohibited from receiving intravenous infusions greater than 50 mL within any 6-hour period without a therapeutic-use exemption, except those “legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.”
According to USADA, the penalty against Penn was mitigated because he admitted to the violation and fully cooperated with the investigation.
Penn, 37, would be eligible to return to competition after Sept. 25. He has not fought since July 2014, but was planning a comeback against Cole Miller at UFC 199 on June 4 before he was pulled from the bout due to a temporary suspension from USADA while the case was adjudicated.
The formal sanction was announced Monday.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj
