Former BKFC champion Lorenzo Hunt was suspended for 18 months and fined $40,000 after testing positive for a banned substance and elevated testosterone levels in a drug test leading up to his bout at BKFC KnuckleMania 4 in April.
Hunt's punishment was handed down at the commission's monthly meeting in June.
Hunt faces an 18-month suspension, a $40,000 fine – 40 percent of his $100,000 fight purse – and must pay $500 for a drug test and provide six negative WADA drug tests to the commission at his own expense before being allowed to fight in the state again.
According to documents provided to MMA Fighting by the California State Athletic Commission, Hunt tested positive for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of trenbolone (an anabolic steroid), and showed an elevated testosterone level of 172, above the traditional threshold of four.
Hunt filed an appeal and a hearing was held in June before the committee, which the 41-year-old did not attend. The committee ultimately handed down the suspension, fine and additional conditions necessary to allow Hunt to play again in California.
After holding titles in multiple BKFC weight classes, Hunt relinquished the belts for a chance to challenge heavyweight challenger champion Mick Terrill.
The fight didn't go Hunt's way, as he was injured less than two minutes into the first round, giving Terrill the win by TKO, a win that was obviously awarded to Terrill regardless of Hunt's drug test results.
Hunt has yet to comment publicly about his suspension, but based on the suspension handed down by the committee, he will not be eligible to compete again until at least October 2025.
