Heavyweight Ben Rothwell today announced he is suspended for nine months for elevated levels of testosterone.

The suspension, however, was not handed down by the athletic commission that oversaw his most recent fight, but instead his promoter, the UFC.

In a statement released to MMAjunkie.com, Rothwell (33-9 MMA, 3-2 UFC) said he came back high for testosterone following his third-round TKO over Brandon Vera (12-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) at UFC 164, which took place Aug. 31 at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center.

Rothwell, who prior to the bout received permission to undergo testosterone-replacement therapy, said the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, which oversaw the event, did not elect to suspend him. Instead, the commission issued him an “administrative warning.”

Despite that warning, the UFC decided to bench him for nine months.

Brittany Lewin, the WDSPS’ public information officer, confirmed that Rothwell received an administrative warning, but could not provide details when asked what the warning meant. Rothwell’s license remains current on the WDSPS’ website, and his profile doesn’t note any disciplinary action toward the fighter.

WSPS statutes allow for a bout’s result to be overturned in the case of a positive test for banned substances. It’s unclear, however, whether penalties apply for fighters that receive a therapeutic use exemption, as Rothwell did with TRT.

On the official results database used by member commissions of the Association of Boxing Commissions, the bout’s official result stands, as it does on the UFC’s official website.

The promotion did not return phone calls requesting comment.

Rothwell and Vera’s bout, which served on the pay-per-view main card of the event, plodded for two rounds before Rothwell suddenly became agitated and charged Vera. A series of hard punches landed for the Wisconsin native, and Vera was saved by the referee in the third round.

Afterward, Rothwell called out top-tier heavyweight Travis Browne, who now is set to fight Josh Barnett.

Vera, whose loss brought his slump to 1-4 with one no contest, told MMAjunkie.com he didn’t know whether he was still a UFC fighter and was unaware of Rothwell’s suspension.

“I haven’t heard anything either way yet,” he wrote via text message. “That’s f–ked, tho. guys now?? Wass really going on.”

In 2011, Vera’s decision loss to Thiago Silva was overturned when Silva falsified a urine sample for a post-fight drug test.

Below is Rothwell’s full statement:

“Following my victory at UFC 164 I was informed I tested for an elevated level of testosterone. This came as a shock because I had applied for and was granted a TRT exemption and was doing so under the supervision of a doctor. I was tested every week for eight weeks prior to the fight and was well under the acceptable level each time.

“I had applied for TRT after an endocrinologist and Wisconsin athletic doctors diagnosed me with hypogonadism. They felt it was caused by a car crash in 1999 that left me with severe head trauma and in a coma. Doctors told me TRT was something that could stop the hypogonadism from degrading my body.

“After getting the news of the elevated test, I spoke with the Wisconsin Athletic Commission and they decided to give me an administrative warning. I was told they didn’t think I tried to cheat, but felt some punishment was necessary.

“I have now been informed the UFC has elected to suspend me for nine months. I am not going to fight the suspension as I feel ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure I stay under the acceptable limit. I am deeply sorry for this mistake and apologize to my fans, family and friends.”

For complete coverage of UFC 164, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Ben Rothwell)