UFC
Alistair Overeem's continuance request with NSAC denied; explanation for elevated T/E ratio in question [UPDATED]
Apr 24, 2012 - 1:30:09 PM Alistair Overeem's continuance request with NSAC denied; explanation for elevated T/E ratio in question [UPDATED]

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem will appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission today to address his positive drug test in March that ultimately has resulted in his removal from UFC 146. However, he and his attorney are expected to request a continuance to gather more "evidence" to defend his test.

Overeem's camp released a statement from the Dutch heavyweight on Monday, blaming an anti-inflammatory that had testosterone as a main ingredient for the positive test. However, that explanation doesn't necessarily hold up to research.

According to Dr. Johnny Benjamin, a medical expert and contributor at MMAJunkie.com, there is no way Overeem should have received an injection of anything that had testosterone without his knowledge. If indeed his explanation is what happened, Benjamin argues, then he should be filing a complaint with the medical board and seeking legal charges against the doctor who prescribed it to him.

Overeem claimed a rib injury required the anti-inflammatory meds, but in that case it would have likely been something along the lines of cortisol, a glucocorticoid steroid which is in an altogether different class of steroids than testosterone. Additionally, Benjamin says testosterone is never included in those types of injections for any legitimate purpose.

The NSAC will have to vote on whether or not to allow a continuance for the case, and given his history with the commission and this excuse for the positive T/E ratio, that's not a given. If they don't allow a continuance, a decision will be made today on his license application.

Penick's Analysis: I don't think his excuse - and make no mistake it's an excuse, not an explanation at this point - is going to necessarily hold weight with the NSAC today. The UFC has already pulled him from UFC 146, and the NSAC has no ulterior obligations that the cynics could point to for allowing Overeem to either be licensed or to continue presenting this farce of a defense. Benjamin debunked the argument in his piece, and the NSAC doesn't have any reason to allow Overeem a continuance to try to come up with more here. They've had several weeks to prepare already.

UPDATE: The NSAC has denied the request for continuance, and a decision will be made on Overeem's license at today's hearing.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]