Lab result finds source of tainted supplement for Penne

Jessica Penne’s management has released a test report from an independent laboratory which reveals a finding of a contaminated medication.  The document, as argued by her management, should exonerate her from the purported 4-year ban from fighting.

Penne’s reps disclosed a one-page document that indicates a prescribed medication taken by Penne was contaminated with the substance Stanozolol.  The substance is prohibited according to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy administer by USADA.

Penne indicated on social media that she was being bullied by USADA into accepting a 4-year ban which would effectively end her career.  The laboratory report identifies the substance which caused the adverse finding in her drug test.  As such, one would think that this should clear her name and USADA would accept the finding as it has done with other athletes that found the source of the tainted supplement.  You might recall USADA assisted in finding the source of Nate Diaz’s adverse finding leading up to the week before UFC 244.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Penne’s reps to help pay for the defense of her case as it goes to arbitration.  The amount of the campaign is to “cover the legal fees and save her career before its too late.”

Payout Perspective:

As this case looks to be moving to arbitration, one has to wonder why USADA doesn’t mitigate the suspension.  This would be Penne’s second infraction under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy which means a 4-year suspension.  However, in light of how USADA has done its best to help Nate Diaz and Jon Jones in trying to find the source of the positive findings in their tests, why didn’t they do so with Penne?  Obviously, they are in an adversarial situation with going into arbitration, but it sounds like from Penne’s social media post there was a time where USADA attempted to help her.  We will see what happens as arbitration looms.