Former interim lightweight challenger Kevin Lee reached an agreement with the Nevada Athletic Commission for a reduced sentence for his failed drug test back stemming from August. The test was an in-competition one after his loss to Daniel Rodriguez on August 28th at the UFC Vegas 35.
It was reported that during the NAC’s monthly conference call meeting that Lee was handed a six-month suspension and a nearly $20,000 fine as a result of the positive drug test for amphetamine. Lee will be eligible to return to competition on February 28, 2022.
Per NAC rules and regulations, a violation of this type normally carries a 9-24 month suspension. However, due to the circumstances of Lee’s case and his cooperation in the matter, a lesser suspension was recommended and a settlement agreement was reached.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Lee recently revealed that he had been managing adult ADHD through medication, specifically Adderall, which he pointed to for the positive test. He also apologized for not disclosing his usage to the NAC knowing that it would have saved him not only financially but mentally all the hoops he has been going through in this process.
Lee has been on a nasty skid record-wise as well to top off his recent struggles, heading into his interim title fight back in October of 2017 he had a record of 16-3. Since then though he has only won two of his last six, with the two being impressive names in Edson Barboza and Gregor Gillespie, but losses to Al Iaquinta, Rafael Dos Anjos, and current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Kevin Lee will be eligible to return next February, and with the UFC already scheduling fights for March, hopefully this issue being resolved can help Lee get back to what he does best which is competing in the Octagon at a high level with a clear head now.
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