BJ Penn’s fight against Cole Miller in June in Los Angeles has been called off after the local mixed martial arts fighter was found in violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy.

Penn was planning his return from a July 2014 retirement following a third-round TKO loss to Frankie Edgar on the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 19.

A statement posted Monday on UFC.com website said:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed BJ Penn of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. Penn disclosed the usage of a prohibited method – the use of an IV in excess of 50 mL in a six-hour period – during a March 25, 2016, out-of-competition sample collection. In accordance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Penn has received a provisional suspension, and has been removed from his scheduled bout against Cole Miller on June 4 in Los Angeles.

UFC will announce a replacement opponent for Miller shortly, and additional information will be provided by USADA and UFC at the appropriate time as the process involving Penn moves forward.

The 37-year-old told KHON2 his mistake was an honest one.

“I wasn’t aware that I couldn’t take an IV 365 days a year,” Penn said. “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, and I said oh, the week before, and that’s it. We’re not being investigated for any banned substances or nothing like that. It’s just I disclosed to USADA that I did an IV without getting permission from them first, and they penalized me for it.”

KHON2 asked, how long do you anticipate this suspension being?

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

KHON2 asked, would this close the door at all on your return from retirement, or is this just a speed bump along the way?

“You know, that’s amazing. It’s just got to be a speed bump, but I’ve went way too far to say I’m exhausted at this point. It’s amazing how my fights have just been getting pushed back,” Penn said. “I guess this is just one more road bump, and I’m the best I’ve ever been. I’m doing great in the gym. I feel awesome. I don’t think Greg Jackson would let me quit at this point. It’s just amazing the way this all went down.”

Penn was previously cleared of allegations of allegedly assaulting the girlfriend of a former employee at his website.

The current wording in the 2015 Prohibited List states that Intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than 50 mL per 6 hour period are prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations.IV infusions are included on the Prohibited List mainly because some athletes could use this Prohibited Method to:

  1. increase their plasma volume levels;
  2. mask the use of a Prohibited Substance;
  3. distort the values of their Athlete Biological Passport.