BKFC star [autotag]Lorenzo Hunt[/autotag] has been suspended after a failed drug test displayed elevated testosterone levels.
The positive test came in connection with his April 27 loss to Mick Terrill at KnuckleMania 4 in Los Angeles. On June 10, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) suspended Hunt for 18 months retroactively and fined him $40,500 (40 percent of his $100,000 purse plus a $500 WADA panel test fee). Fight Opinion first reported the failure before MMA Fighting reported the terms of the sanctions.
Per CSAC documents obtained by MMA Junkie, Hunt was flagged for the epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the anabolic steroid trenbolone, as well as elevated testosterone levels. Hunt’s testosterone-to-epitestosterone level was 172-to-1, significantly above the maximum of 4-to-1.
Two sanction options were initially proposed for Hunt – one with a six-month suspension and a $25,000 fine; the other with a nine-month suspension and a $40,000 fine – that were dependent on how long it would take him to pay the owed amount. However, Hunt failed to appear at his CSAC hearing.
Hunt declined any banned substance usage in a recent Instagram post.
“In regard to the latest scandal, you clowns have cooked up in order to defame my hard work and integrity,” Hunt wrote. “I am a clean fighter and always have been… my discipline my heart and my work ethic got me here… and this garbage will all be sorted out.”
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Hunt, 41, is one of the most prominent figures of homegrown BKFC talent. A 3-5 professional MMA fighter, Hunt quickly emerged as one of the promotion’s top talents when he transitioned to bareknuckle fighting in 2019. He went on to win titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight before the failed heavyweight championship bid vs. Terrill, which he lost due to an arm injury.