B.J. Penn receives six-month suspension from USADA for IV use

The UFC’s third-party anti-doping partner, USADA, suspended former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion B.J. Penn six months, the agency announced Monday in a press release. Penn admitted use of an IV in an out-of-competition drug test performed by USADA on March 25. The suspension is retroactive to that date, meaning Penn will be able to return to action on Sept. 25 of this year.

IVs have been banned under the UFC’s anti-doping policy since Oct. 1, 2015.

According to USADA’s release, “a subsequent investigation by USADA revealed that the intravenous infusion received by Penn was administered in a volume greater than 50 mL within a 6 hour period. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, intravenous infusions in a volume greater than 50 mL within a 6 hour period are prohibited, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations. Intravenous infusions received in any other setting require an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).”

The release also stated Penn’s suspension was reduced to six months because he voluntarily disclosed his use of an IV and “fully cooperated” during USADA’s investigation. USADA’s regular suspension length is two years.

Penn, who was slated to face Cole Miller in his return fight at UFC 199 earlier this month, claimed he was unaware of the new IV regulations, stating he believed IVs were only prohibited in-competition.

Penn (16-10-2), a UFC Hall of Famer, has not fought since a July 2014 stoppage loss to Frankie Edgar and has not won an MMA fight since 2010. The Hawaiian legend is one of two fighters to be a two-division UFC champion. Now training at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M., Penn looks to return to the Octagon by the end of the year.