Rountree gets doping ban, UFC title fight to go ahead

Khalil Rountree has been given a retrospective four-and-a-half-month ban by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) following a failed drug test in May.

Rountree, 34, is due to face light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira on 5 October in Utah, which will go ahead.

The American fighter was internally suspended for two months by the UFC for testing positive for anabolic steroid DHEA in a urine sample and removed from UFC 303 in June as a result.

The drug test was administered by the UFC's anti-doping programme, Combat Sports Anti-Doping, and Rountree then informed the NAC about the results.

Rountree denied intentionally doping, saying the positive test was caused by the "accidental ingestion of a blended supplement".

Due to his co-operation, Rountree was given a retrospective ban that will expire on 18 September and fined £119.14 ($157.04).

"I'm glad he showed up, and the self-reporting obviously had a great influence on the commission's decision here," NAC chairman Dallas Haun said. "I applaud him for self-reporting."

Rountree (13-5-1NC) is a big underdog against Brazilian champion Pereira (11-2) in Salt Lake City at UFC 307.