Morning Report: B.J. Penn hopes for a short suspension, plans to return after USADA ‘speed bump’

Perhaps he should have stayed retired.

In January B.J. Penn announced he was coming out of retirement to return to the UFC. Feeling the urge to get back to fighting, Penn began training at the fabled Jackson-Winklejohn camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico with MMA guru/”sport killer” Greg Jackson who he seems to connect with. The pair have been pleased with Penn’s progress and Penn is hopeful about his chances to make a real title run; however, his path back to the octagon has been a bumpy one.

In February, Penn was accused of sexually assaulting a former employee’s girlfriend. The seriousness of the accusations forced the UFC to delay Penn’s return which had been targeted for UFC 196. In April, police began an investigation into the allegations. Ultimately, no charges were filed against Penn and a private investigation by the UFC allowed him to return to competition. Penn was then booked for a featherweight bout against Dennis Siver at UFC 199 but now that fight is off as well.

As reported on Monday, Penn was withdrawn from the bout due to a USADA violation, using a non-permitted IV infusion. Yesterday, Penn spoke with KHON2 News in Hawaii about the incident.

“I wasn’t aware that I couldn’t take an IV 365 days a year. I got an IV back in March and USADA came to do a test. We did the test and they asked me, when was the last time I got an IV. I told them ‘the week before’ and that’s it. We’re not being investigated for any banned substances or nothing like that. It’s just [that] I disclosed to USADA that I did an IV without getting permission from them first and they penalized me for it.”

The IV ban was a point of minor contention when it was initially implemented though one that some fighters, Penn included, were supportive of. To many it appeared that the ban was strictly to prevent fighters from dehydrating themselves to dangerous levels in order to make weight and then using IV’s to replenish faster. The actual reason for the rule goes much deeper than that.

According to a statement released by USADA yesterday, the ban was put into effect because IV’s can be used to change blood test results, mask urine results, and circumvent rules banning prohibited substances by allowing them to more quickly exit the athlete’s body. However, like many things involving USADA’s work with the UFC, the implementation of these rules has led to some confusion. This confusion, and the fact that Penn is facing no allegations of PED use at this time, leads Penn to believe that his suspension shouldn’t be long.

“I don’t think it should be so long. I don’t think it should be too long because, I mean ignorance of the rule is no excuse but it has nothing to do with banned substances. We’re not doing anything with any performance enhancement. I think they’ve just gotta lay down the punishment for whatever they feel.”

As of now Penn is conditionally suspended until such time as USADA renders an official judgment, which Penn then has the option to appeal. There is no timetable on when Penn may be able to return and since the UFC-USADA partnership era is new, there isn’t any precedent to guide speculation. But regardless of how long his suspension is Penn says this isn’t the end, just another setback; one which his new coach won’t let defeat him.

“It’s gotta just be a speed bump. I went way too far to say I’m exhausted at this point. Really it’s been amazing how my fights have just been getting pushed back but I guess this is just one more road bump.

I’m the best I’ve ever been. I’m doing great in the gym. I feel awesome. I don’t think Greg …

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