Kevin Lee Suspended 6 Months Due to Positive Test for Amphetamine

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.