BJ Penn accepted a six-month suspension by USADA today following an anti-doping violation leading up to his UFC 199 bout with Denis Siver.
Facing a potential two-year ban, USADA posted a statement on their website, in which they detailed Penn’s cooperation and voluntary disclosure regarding his use of banned IV’s.
“Penn, 37, voluntarily disclosed his use of the intravenous infusion and fully cooperated with USADA’s investigation into the circumstances regarding his violation. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard period of ineligibility may be reduced due to an individual’s voluntary admission of a violation and/or pursuant to an analysis of the individual’s degree of fault for the violation. Here, after taking both of those factors into consideration, USADA determined that a 6-month period of ineligibility was an appropriate sanction under the rules for Penn’s violation.”
Penn notified USADA officials on Mar. 25, during an out of competition test, that he had used a banned IV, admittedly unaware of new regulations banning their use, in violation of the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy, which states, “All IV infusions and/or injections of more than 50mL (~3.4 tablespoons) per 6 hour period are 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 (TUE).”
PENN CALLS OUT ST.PIERRE
Despite being eligible to fight in September, “The Prodigy” took to Twitter recently to call out Georges St. Pierre, who recently announced his intention to make his UFC return, for UFC 205.
Hey @GeorgesStPierre if you can make 155 easily, I’m free in November and would love the opportunity to fight you at 155 pounds in New York.
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) June 27, 2016
Penn( 16-10-2 MMA) last fought in 2014 when he was bludgeoned by Frankie Edgar in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 19 finale, and hasn’t won a fight since defeating Matt Hughes at UFC 123.
Main Image
