Hours after being flagged by the USADA for a potential doping violation, Ben Rothwell pleaded his case.
In a statement issued to MMAFighting via his management team, the UFC heavyweight maintained his innocence and revealed he's been battling an undisclosed illness with the help of a doctor.
With the recent news received from USADA, I would like to take this time to let everyone know I have been under the care of a physician and trying to overcome a medical illness.
I would appreciate the chance to show that I have not cheated nor did I intend to cheat. Please hold your opinions of me until all the facts are out. I appreciate everyone's support as I go through the process with USADA.
The 46-fight veteran was popped for a sample collected Feb. 6, and has been provisionally suspended as a result, thereby scrapping a date with Fabricio Werdum that had been slated for May 13 at UFC 211.
Rothwell was handed a nine-month suspension back in 2013 after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels in a sample collected around the time of his bout versus Brandon Vera at UFC 164, despite having been granted a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy.
The 35-year-old hasn't fought since falling to Junior dos Santos by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 86 last April.