USADA’s latest victim is a familiar name to the suspended fighters list.
Josh Barnett has been flagged for a potential USADA violation after allegedly failing an out-of-competition test taken on Dec. 9, according to a statement released by UFC.
Barnett spent many years outside the UFC after failing drug tests on two occasions following fights with Bobby Hoffman and Randy Couture. Barnett was UFC Heavyweight Champion at the time of the second failure in 2002, was stripped of the title, and didn’t return to the company until 2013. Barnett also failed a test leading into his scheduled Affliction fight with Fedor Emelianenko in 2009.
There is no announcement currently on what Barnett has been flagged for, but the substance should be released as the process plays out.
Barnett had won three of his five fights since returning to UFC, most recently submitting Andrei Arlovski. He had been tested 13 times by USADA this year.
Hiscoe’s Analysis: Barnett’s going to have a tough time getting out of this one considering his past, but he is entitled to due process. If USADA takes his past failures into account, and depending on what the substance is, Barnett could be looking at a very lengthy suspension. At 39 years old, Josh Barnett’s fighting days may be over. He has a good gig, calling New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV and he can still do pro-wrestling himself, so he has options outside of MMA.
http://www.ufc.ca/news/UFC-
TUESDAY NOTEBOOK ITEMS…
–Dana White told TMZ that he “doubts” Brock Lesnar will make another UFC comeback. “I don’t know how much longer he’s got with WWE.” he said. “I think his career is winding down, but he’s a freak of nature. Who knows? Maybe he’ll give me a call and say he wants to do it again, but I think he’s ready to ride off into the sunset. But we haven’t talked about it.”
-Jeremy Stephens has taken to Twitter to challenge Clay Guida to a fight. Stephens is coming off of a loss to Frankie Edgar while Guida is coming off of consecutive losses to Thiago Tavares and Brian Ortega. Guida has yet to respond.
-Phillipe Nover vs. Rick Glenn has been added to UFC 208 on Feb. 11 from Brooklyn.
NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: MONDAY NEWS DIGEST 12/26: UFC 206 free replay on Fox draws big numbers, JDS and ex-Rousey roommate pick UFC 207 winner (w/Hiscoe’s Analysis)
(MMATorch’s Daily News Digest features the top story of the day with added analysis, plus smaller tidbits in the News Notes section. Mike Hiscoe, who writes the News Digest Sundays through Thursdays, has a background in film criticism and previously wrote for the DVD Town and Movie Metropolis websites. His passion for Mixed Martial Arts goes back to 2005, but it was in the promotion for UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie that he really got hooked.”This is my house, I build it,” is still among the all-time great UFC promos. You can follow Mike on social media under the tag @mikehiscoe. He now provides his experienced writing and perspective on live MMA events for MMATorch.)
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