BJ Penn pulled from UFC 199 bout for USADA IV violation

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn was scheduled to come out of retirement at UFC 199 on June 4 in a featherweight bout against Cole Miller.

Penn who last fought Frankie Edgar in 2014 is looking to make some noise in the featherweight division but will have to be put on the sideline as he has been pulled from the UFC 199 bout with Cole Miller after telling the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that he had used an IV previously in March.

BJ Penn made the following statement to BJPENN.COM regarding his admitted use of an IV to USADA:

“I voluntarily disclosed to USADA that during a non-fight period that I had an IV administered under the care of a doctor.

“The rule for IV usage had changed since my last fight in the UFC and was unaware of the change and voluntarily disclosed the information to USADA. I had no idea that IV use was banned 365 days a year.

“At no time in my career in martial arts have I ever doped and anticipate all test results from USADA will come back clean and will be working with the UFC to get the matter cleared up and return to fight as soon as possible.”