B.J. Penn discloses IV use, gets suspended

1/1

Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY B.J. PENN

B.J. Penn said: “At no time in my career in martial arts have I ever doped and anticipate all test results from USADA will come back clean …”

Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.

Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.

Get unlimited access

From as low as $12.95 /mo.

Subscribe Now

Hilo’s B.J. Penn will not fight at UFC 199 on June 4 in Los Angeles after receiving a suspension for disclosing the use of an IV that is prohibited by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

The UFC said in a statement Monday, “The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informed B.J. 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.”

Penn responded with a statement of his own saying, “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 (I) 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.”

Penn, 37, was attempting to return from a 23-month hiatus to fight Miller in a 145-pound bout that would have served as the main event of the preliminary bouts for UFC 199 telecast on Fox Sports 1.

The UFC said in its statement it will attempt to find a replacement opponent for Miller (21-9, 10-7 UFC).

Penn (16-10-2, 12-9-2) last fought for the UFC in July 2014, losing by TKO in the third round to Frankie Edgar.

Penn hasn’t won a fight in the UFC since 2010 and is 1-5-1 in his past seven bouts since losing the UFC lightweight title to Edgar in April 2010.

Penn was scheduled to return to competition earlier this year, but his fight with Dennis Siver was postponed when the UFC conducted an independent investigation of sexual assault allegations made against Penn.

No charges were filed.

Siver pulled out of the fight with Penn earlier this month and was replaced by Miller.

Waianae’s Max Holloway will fight Ricardo Lamas on the main card of the UFC 199 pay-per-view broadcast.