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View Full Version : Veteran heavyweight Josh Barnett notified of potential USADA violation



Kemal
28-12-2016, 12:48
The UFC today announced that USADA has notified UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from a Dec. 9 out-of-competition drug test.

As with all potential anti-doping violations, the announcement clarified that Barnett will be afforded “a full fair legal review process … “before any sanctions are imposed” and did not publicly disclose the substance for which he tested positive.

Barnett’s longtime rep, Leland LaBarre, was still reviewing the announcement and did not immediately offer comment to MMAjunkie.

Barnett (35-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC), the No. 8 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, most recently competed in the octagon on Sept. 3 in a headliner opposite ex-champ Andrei Arlovski (25-13 MMA, 14-7 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 93 in Hamburg, Germany. He submitted Arlovski in the third round to return to the win column following a second-round submission loss to Ben Rothwell at UFC on FOX 18.

The potential positive marks the third time Barnett has run afoul of anti-doping rules while under the UFC banner, and his fourth issue while fighting for a major MMA promotion. He tested positive for a banned substance before a win over Bobby Hoffman at UFC 34, though he was not sanctioned because the Nevada State Athletic Commission had to implement anti-doping rules. In his next bout, however, Barnett met immediate consequences when he beat Randy Couture for the heavyweight title at UFC 36 and was subsequently stripped of the belt when a post-fight test revealed three banned steroids. He subsequently defected to Japan, where he became a star in PRIDE.

After the Japanese promotion folded in 2008, Barnett struck a deal with Affliction Entertainment and picked up two wins. He was scheduled to headline the fledgling MMA promotion’s third event, Trilogy, against former PRIDE heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko. But he failed a pre-fight drug test administered by the California State Athletic Commission, coming up positive for a steroid metabolite, and was denied a fight license. The event was subsequently canceled, and shortly thereafter, Affliction ceased operations as an MMA promotion.

Three years later, Barnett was granted a conditional license with the CSAC to compete in the now-defunct Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix. He submitted to random drug testing by the commission as a condition of licensure.

After re-signing with the UFC in 2013, Barnett got back on track. In connection for a bout with Travis Browne at UFC 168, he submitted to an enhanced testing program overseen by the NSAC that was a precursor to the UFC’s anti-doping program utilizing USADA. Over five fights, three of which where under the industry-leader’s program, he did not fail a drug test; this year alone, he had been tested 13 times by USADA, per online testing records.

Today’s news brings Barnett back under the microscope. Here is the UFC’s full statement:

“The UFC organization was formally notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Josh Barnett of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on December 9, 2016.

“USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed.

“Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information or UFC statements will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”

e-type
28-12-2016, 13:09
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