Kevin
Lee has been suspended for six months by the Nevada State
Athletic Commission after testing positive for a banned amphetamine
in relation to his UFC on ESPN 30 loss to Daniel
Rodriguez on Aug. 28.
Lee reached a settlement with the NSAC during a Wednesday hearing
in which he received a reduced suspension due to the circumstances
of the positive test and his cooperation in the case. Normally a
failed drug test of this nature would result in a sanction ranging
from nine to 24 months. “The Motown Phenom” was also fined $19,526.
He will be eligible to return to active competition on Feb. 28,
2022.
Lee received a temporary suspension last month when it was
initially confirmed that he tested positive for Adderall. Lee
apologized for his failed test, while revealing that the drug
had been prescribed to him to deal with Adult ADHD. However, he did
not apply for a therapeutic use exemption with the NSAC prior to
UFC on ESPN 30.
“It was never my intention to gain an athletic advantage,” Lee
wrote in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. “It was an
attempt to conquer the severe anxiety I silently suffer from daily.
I am actively cooperating with the Nevada Athletic Commission and
expect to reach an agreement on a sanction. I will use this time to
heal and come back stronger. Sorry for my lack of professionalism
that lead to this disappointment, I’ll be back.”
In a separate post that is still active, Lee detailed issues with
sobriety and substance abuse.
“I’ll just speak as a human not as a fighter right now,” Lee wrote.
“I’ve been embarrassed these last few weeks since knowing this news
would come out. I always knew my brain worked different than other
people and I’ve tried to hide my whole life. Before I started
taking medicine I spent a lot of my time drunk. I been scared
knowing that the world would know exactly what’s wrong with me.
“But from now, fuck all that. I’m not embarrassed and I’m not
hiding behind diagnosis’s and pills or alcohol or none of that no
more. I haven’t been drunk for about a month (which is a lot for me
outside of fight camp) and no more prescriptions. Not that I think
they are wrong or harmful but this next stage of healing I need to
be sober and connected with God. Making a post is holding me
accountable, if there’s one person out there like me I’m with
you.”
Lee has lost four of his last five bouts in UFC competition. His
lone victory during that time was a spectacular head-kick KO of
Gregor
Gillespie at UFC 244 in November 2019. The Tristar Gym
represenative made his 170-pound debut against Rodriguez. At one
point during his promotional tenure, Lee won nine of 10 Octagon
appearances before falling to Tony
Ferguson in an interim lightweight championship clash at UFC
216.