The UFC, in association with Combat Sports Anti-Doping, has released a statement on Khalil Rountree Jr’s complicated withdrawal from UFC 303.
‘The War Horse’ was set to take on former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 in June, but that bout has sadly been scrapped after Khalil Rountre Jr came forward to acknowledge his accidental consumption of a banned substance last week.
The Khalil Rountree Jr – UFC 303 situation in a nutshell
Last weekend, Khalil Rountree Jr took to social media to announce that his fight with Hill had been canceled after he was made aware that he had inadvertently consumed DHEA, a banned substance that was blended into his supplement package without his knowledge.
According to Rountree, he immediately contacted both Senior Vice President of Anti-doping compliance, Jeff Novitsky and UFC Vice President of Anti-doping compliance, Donna Marcolini to inform them and reiterate that this was purely an accidental consumption.
“My sincerest apologies to you all and to Jamahal for this unfortunate series of events,” shared Rountree, before ending his statement by stating “This is a huge loss and an even bigger lesson.”
UFC release statement on Rountree’s withdrawal from UFC 303
Today, May 22, the UFC released a statement in association with Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) on the matter involving Rountree, confirming that the fan-favorite light heavyweight contender has accepted a two-month sanction for the violation.
“Khalil Rountree of Las Vegas, NV, has accepted a 2-month sanction for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy… Rountree self-reported to UFC personnel the mistaken use of a dietary supplement that contained DHEA, a prohibited at all times anabolic steroid, as one of its several ingredients.”
According to the statement, the biological sample in question was shipped to and tested by the Sports Medicine Research Testing Laboratory (SMRTL) in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the test results indeed reflecting the presence of DHEA metabolites.
“Rountree provided CSAD with shipping records, detailing that he received the supplement containing DHEA on May 2, 2024, just two days before he provided the May 4th sample.”
“Rountree also provided documentation from the owner of the clinic that sent him the supplement, reflecting that the company’s Brand Marketing Director sent Rountree some of the company’s ‘therapeutic blends’ supplements ‘without prior approval’.”
The owner of the supplement suppliers reportedly described the incident as “a massive oversight on our part,” with the CSAD acknowledging that “as soon as Rountree realized the mistake, he immediately notified UFC personnel, who immediately passed the information along to CSAD.”
“CSAD consulted with SMRTL who informed that Rountree’s May 4th sample result was consistent with the above facts and that Rountree’s short-term use of DHEA in the doses present in the dietary supplement did not provide any significant performance benefits.”
The CSAD, in association with the UFC Anti-Doping Program, noted that Rountree Jr fits the criteria of an athlete providing “full and complete cooperation, where the athlete did not intend to enhance their performance and has provided full, prompt and truthful responses and information.”
Based on the evidence at hand, the CSAD is “reducing the sanction against Rountree to 2-months,” starting from May 4, 2024, the day that he provided the sample.
“Because Rountree’s scheduled fight on June 29, 2024, was publicly announced before his provision of the May 4th sample, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) is also retaining jurisdiction over this sample result. NAC will separately determine any sanctions against Rountree at an upcoming NAC meeting.”
So, whilst Rountree is sanctioned for at least two months, it appears that both associated governing bodies agree that the evidence suggests this was indeed an accidental consumption.
It is unclear whether the UFC will find a new opponent for Jamahal Hill for UFC 303 in late June, or if the fight with Rountree Jr will be rebooked for later in the year after the sanction lifts.
You can read the full statement from the UFC here.