Khalil Rountree Jr has been forced out of his fight with Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 on June 29th during International Fight Week in Las Vegas after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA, a steroid hormone.
Rountree revealed the news himself in a post on Instagram in which he claims he inadvertently took the PED via a tainted supplement.
“I’m gutted to deliver this news to you all but I will not be fighting at UFC 303 due to consuming a banned substance,” Rountree wrote. “I did not do this intentionally and I am doing everything I can to get this situation taken care of. I was using a personalized, tailored supplement service from a company that I trusted who understood my limitations in what I can and cannot take.
“They accidentally sent a blended supplement to me that contained [a] banned substance called DHEA (which is prohibited at all times under the UFC anti-doping policy). Only after I consumed it was its ingredients brought to my attention.
“I immediately contacted senior vice president of anti-doping compliance Jeff Novitzky and UFC vice president of anti-doping compliance Donna Marcolini upon receiving that information to inform them of this matter,” Rountree wrote. “I’ve provided them with all of the information to show that this was not a matter of cheating or to enhance performance. Although DHEA is non-performance enhancing, it is a banned substance therefore I am under temporary suspension.
“My sincerest apologies to you all and to Jamahal for this unfortunate series of events. This is a huge loss and an even bigger lesson.”
At this stage it’s not clear what Rountree’s punishment will be and how long it may keep him out of action for, but in the mean time the UFC will be looking for a new opponent for former light-heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill on a UFC 303 card that will be headlined by the return of Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler.
