UFC News: Having Pled Guilty to Doping Violation, Khalil Rountree Jr. Accepts Two-Month Ban

Things were looking up for #8 ranked UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. Coming off of a spectacular, highlight reel knockout of Anthony Smith last year, he was scheduled to face former champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 303. And a title shot did not look far behind if he managed to defeat ‘Sweet Dreams’. However, things changed dramatically earlier this month, when the light heavyweight revealed that he had accidentally ingested the banned substance DHEA.

‘The War Horse’ claimed that he had been using a tailored supplement service, and because of a mistake on the part of the company, he was sent a tainted pill, which he unknowingly consumed. And now, the official verdict has been announced by CSAD: a two-month suspension from May 4, the date he reported himself to the authorities. The UFC came out with a press release about Khalil Rountree’s suspension, after Combat Sports Anti Doping (CSAD), the promotion’s anti-doping arm issued its verdict on the light heavyweight’s doping violation.

Because ‘The War Horse’ had reported the accidental drug violation on his own and cooperated fully with the authorities, he was given a shortened sentence by the body. In addition, the press release confirmed that the light heavyweight was indeed determined to have ingested the drug accidentally, as he had claimed all along and his conduct had indicated.

This was an important (perhaps the most important) factor in the 34-year-old only getting a two-month ban (instead of the usual one-year or longer suspension meted out otherwise). This ban has been applied retrospectively, from the date Rountree reported himself to July 4, a week after UFC 303.

“Under the UFC Anti-Doping Program, CSAD, in its sole discretion may suspend all or any part of ineligibility and other consequences imposed in an individual case in which it has results management authority where the athlete has provided full and complete cooperation, where the athlete did not intend to enhance their performance and has provided full, prompt and truthful responses and information. CSAD has determined that Rountree’s actions after he determined the error, and the evidence of this case, fit these criteria, and thus CSAD is reducing the sanction against Rountree to 2-months,” the press release read in part.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally occurring substance in the human body. However, it is understood to be a ‘precursor’ to both the human sex hormones, i.e., testosterone and estrogen, and is therefore classified as an anabolic steroid, which the UFC and (other anti-doping bodies) have banned.

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), while DHEA is a weak androgen, it can be converted into testosterone (which plays a major part in strength, recovery, and overall athletic performance) in the human body, and is therefore considered a performance-enhancing drug.

Now that the official verdict has been reached by CSAD in Rountree’s unique case, a new opponent has emerged for Jamahal Hill at UFC 303.

Carlos Ulberg in, Khalil Rountree Jr. out of UFC 303 co-main event

Rountree has done everything right. The 34-year-old, despite knowing that he would take a professional and financial hit by voluntarily reporting his violation (which, there is a chance may have gone undetected by the time he had to give a sample for drug testing), has done something very admirable and worthy of respect. This is why he has been awarded a relatively lenient sentence of two months.

However, a lot can happen in the UFC within two months. There are multiple reports already that the UFC has replaced ‘The War Horse’ with another promising fighter for Hill to face: #11 ranked Carlos Ulberg. And this is not good news for Rountree. With a victory over Hill, the #8 light heavyweight would have had a good case for fighting for the title in the top-heavy UFC 205-pound division.

Even if Rountree wouldn’t have been the next title contender following UFC 303, he would have been one, or at the most, two steps away from fighting for the UFC’s second-heaviest division’s crown. But now, all of that is in jeopardy. But, given his exemplary conduct during the whole affair, many hope the UFC will do the right thing and let him pick up where he left off: one or two steps away from a 205-pound title shot.

What are your thoughts on the two-month ban handed to the fighter? Let us know in the comments.