BJ Penn has been suspended for six months by USADA after he admitted to having used an IV.
USADA had issued a ban on IV infusions last year, but Penn claimed he had been unaware of the finer details of the rule change.
When USADA came calling for an out-of-competition test in March, Penn voluntarily revealed to them during that he had recently had an IV, which had been administered by doctors who were assessing his ongoing issues with vertigo.
Penn could have faced a two-year ban for using that IV, but due to his co-operation with USADA, the former lightweight and welterweight champion will only sit out for six months.
Since the ban works retroactively, that means Penn would be available to resume his fighting career in September.
Penn had been set to fight Cole Miller at featherweight prior to his IV issue, but in true ‘Prodigy’ fashion he’s set himself a much loftier target now, calling out his rival Georges St. Pierre to a trilogy fight at UFC 205 in November instead!
That’s almost certainly not going to happen, but whatever happens, the 37 year-old is just eager to compete again.
“At this point I just want to fight. I want to show the world how great I am.”
