Khalil Rountree will still get his opportunity to fight Alex Pereira at UFC 307, after the length of his suspension was formally announced.
The pair of sporting titans will go head-to-head for light heavyweight gold on October 5, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Khalil Rountree reports his own failed drug test
On August 29, during a monthly meeting, the Nevada Athletic Commission handed Khalil Rountree a 4.5-month suspension, which will expire prior to his showdown with Alex Pereira.
The American also received a fine of $157.04 for prosecution fees as part of a settlement agreement, which was approved by the commission members. The fighter was present at the hearing and received enormous praise from the commission for not just being cooperative but also for self-reporting his failed drug test.
As per MMA Junkie, NAC chairman Dallas Haun said: “I’m glad he showed up, and the self-reporting obviously had a great influence on the commission’s decision here. I applaud him for self-reporting.”
Rountree then thanked the commission for their investigation, saying: “I just want to say thank you guys for looking into the details of the matter.
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He added: “It definitely has made a huge difference in everything that’s happening right now in my life. I’m just really appreciative of you guys for taking the extra time to look into the details.”
On May 4, Rountree submitted a urine sample that tested positive for an anabolic steroid called DHEA, which produces testosterone. Consequently, the UFC used its anti-doping program, Combat Sports Anti-Doping, to internally suspend the fighter for two months.
The CSAD claims that Rountree self-reported an accidental ingestion of a blended supplement that contained DHEA. His claim was backed by a sample tested by Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL).
How did Khalil Rountree make his case?
The news that Rountree had failed a test, was first announced by himself. Because of this, he was removed from his co-main event spot against Jamahal Hill at UFC 303.
The athlete then provided documentation to the CSAD, who confirmed that a supplement company provided Rountree with ‘therapeutic blend’ products, ‘without prior approval’.
This resulted in the CSAD revealing that the supplement company referred to the mess-up as: “A massive oversight on our part.”
After consulting with SMRTL, the CSAD came to the conclusion that the doses the 205-pounder ingested were of a small enough amount to not have any performance-enhancing benefits.
Consequently, the organization released the following statement: “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.”
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