Josh Barnett — who recently failed a pre-fight drug screening for anabolic steroids prior to a showdown with Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 — returned a positive “B” sample on Friday (July 31) according to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), all but confirming his initial test result from last month.
Barnett’s positive test led to Affliction MMA’s house of cards to come crashing down, calling it quits as a fight promoter and returning to the UFC as a corporate sponsor with its clothing brand. Several intriguing fights were scrapped as a result, forcing fighters to search for work elsewhere … Barnett included.
The former PRIDE and UFC star issued a press release earlier this week calling into question the integrity of those results alleged by the CSAC — who does have a fairly sordid history dating back to the Sean Sherk scandal — and beyond.
From his official press release:
Mr. Barnett was shocked at these allegations and was extremely disappointed to learn that Affliction had made the hasty decision to cancel the August 1st event in its entirety. Mr. Barnett vehemently denies intentionally ingesting any banned substances in preparation for the August 1st fight and he is looking forward to presenting his case to the California State Athletic Commission.
Barnett indicated that he intends to appeal this most recent steroid finding with the CSAC but was likely counting on his second “B” sample to help dispute the initial positive result.
In light of this new development, Barnett will not be eligible to reapply for a license to fight in the United States for at least a year, forcing him to remain exiled in Japan until then. With a Sengoku heavyweight grand prix looming and a successful wrestling career, however, it may not be too difficult to find work.
Keep in locked on MMAmania.com as we’ll let you know more on Barnett’s future when it’s announced.
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by
Ariel HelwaniFiled under: MMA Videos, UFC
Ever wonder what it looks like when UFC president
Dana White conducts one of his famous conference calls? Well, just check out the video below.
Of course, White held court on Friday while announcing the UFC's
new television deal with ESPN UK,
the re-signing of
Tito Ortiz and the
new UFC 103 main event involving the returning
Vitor Belfort and
Rich Franklin. Oh, he also talked about the
failed contract negotations with
Fedor Emelianenko, even though he really wasn't in the mood to do so.
(
Note: Video contains some explicit language.)
Dana White Conference Call Video originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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For those who prefer a quiet Friday night by the computer over having sex with various lubricated holes, I present to you CagePotato’s comprehensive list of MMA juicers. An example (and a refresher that either Marquardt was a juicer or these kind of stupid supplement tainting fuckups happen quite often):
NATE MARQUARDT
Caught: 8/15/05, following his unanimous decision win over Ivan Salaverry at Ultimate Fight Night 1.
Tested positive for: Nandrolone
Punishment: No fine and a suspension lifted by the NSAC on January 5th, after two separate follow-up tests came up negative for the drug.
In his own words: “I never thought it’d be an issue. I’d been taking some over-the-counter supplements at a Max Muscle store. It was something like what Mark McGwire took, androstenedione. I never thought of that stuff being tested. It was a stupid mistake. People are going to believe what they want to believe, but I’ve been clean in my last three fights — I’m not taking anything that’s not independently tested anymore — and I’m fighting just as well as I ever have…I know some guys just knowingly take steroids, but there’s not enough [information] about what causes false positives, about contamination risks, all that. You have to watch out for things. We don’t always know what not to take. That’s the real gray area. That’s my story.”
Also on there: the UFC’s new headliner Vitor Belfort. And funnily enough, the chronological list starts with Josh Barnett and ends with Josh Barnett.
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… will be contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds, not 205, according to FollowAce:
“Just found out I will be fighting Vitor at a catch weight of 195 as per his request.”
Makes sense for Belfort. He is eager to pursue his career at middleweight, refusing to fight Gegard Mousasi at 205 pounds, but then reversing course and agreeing in principle to take on Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight on the Affliction: “Trilogy” card that never materialized. Franklin, a former middleweight champion, on the other hand just competed at 195 pounds in a winning performance against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99. However, Franklin is making no real progress at light heavyweight since a return to the weight class last year with a technical knockout win over Matt Hamill. Perhaps it’s time to create a new division? For more on Franklin vs. Belfort click here.
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First the opponent, now the weight class?
Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin's (25-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC)
training plans continue to change, and a recently announced UFC 103
main-event bout with Vitor Belfort (16-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will now take
place at a catchweight of 195 pounds instead of the originally
announced light heavyweight class.
"Just found out I will be fighting Vitor at a catchweight of 195
(pounds) as per his request," Franklin today posted on his Twitter
account.
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Welcome to the fifth of a ten-part series on the blacks, whites and greys in MMA journalism. I had some challenging questions and Jim Murphy of the Savage Science, Zak Woods of SB Nation and Watch Kalib Run and MMA Opinion’s very own Joshua Stein stepped up to the plate to share their perspective. Today we’ll be [...]
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WOW, what an incredible week it has been for the world of MMA. In my look back at the week that was, I laugh in many ways. In this edition I drop dimes on Forrest, Josh B., Fedor,Tito, and Affliction.
Forrest Griffin:
Will do anything for the sport of MMA, except give up coffee. Sorry ladies you [...]
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