B.J. Penn has been taken off of UFC 199 next week as a result of a violation of the UFC anti-doping policy.
The UFC has issued a statement found on its web site. A portion reads:
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed BJ 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.
Payout Perspective:
The good news is that the MMA community does not have to fake like Penn’s return to the Octagon was a good thing. In fact, it was quite sad. If you watched his fight against Rory MacDonald in 2012 and then his return against Frankie Edgar in July 2014, you knew that the old BJ was no more and that he was done as an elite MMA fighter. His last fight against Edgar did not show any sign that he was competitive. In fact, he has not won a UFC fight since November 2010.
Unfortunately, Penn’s career and possibly his personal life is in turmoil. Penn was involved in a fight with a friend which resulted in an arrest. You might recall that his return to fighting was delayed due to sexual assault allegations. Earlier this year, the story took a weird turn as a former writer for his web site accused Penn of the assault on his girlfriend. With the possibility of a suspension due to his violation of the anti-doping policy, the future is murky for the former prodigy.
wow, sounds like he is done for sure. Wouldn’t touch him if I was any promotion.
Sounds like he has become quite the bully
I honestly think he may be going through the issue of figuring out what to do after fighting. Happens in other pro sports too. This comeback does not seem good for his own health or the promotion.