BKFC star Lorenzo Hunt suspended due to astronomical testosterone levels

BKFC star Lorenzo Hunt was suspended after a doping test revealed elevated testosterone levels.

The positive test came in connection with his loss to Mick Terrill on April 27 at KnuckleMania 4 in Los Angeles. On June 10, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) retroactively suspended Hunt for 18 months and fined him $40,500 (40 percent of his $100,000 purse plus a $500 WADA panel testing fee). Fight Opinion first reported on the violation before MMA Fighting announced the terms of the sanctions.

According to CSAC documents obtained by MMA Junkie, Hunt was reprimanded for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the anabolic steroid trenbolone, as well as elevated testosterone levels. Hunt’s testosterone to epitestosterone levels were 172:1, well above the maximum of 4:1.

Hunt was initially presented with two sanction options – one a six-month suspension and a $25,000 fine; the other a nine-month suspension and a $40,000 fine – depending on how long it would take him to pay the amount owed. However, Hunt failed to appear at his CSAC hearing.

Hunt has not yet commented publicly on the matter, but an exhibit presented by CSAC shows an email in which Hunt denied taking banned substances.

Hunt, 41, is one of the most recognizable figures of BKFC’s homegrown talent. A professional MMA fighter standing 3’5, Hunt quickly became one of the promotion’s top talents when he switched to bare-knuckle fighting in 2019. He won titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight before falling to Terrill in a heavyweight bout, losing to an arm injury.