Jan 07 2011
Josh Barnett Must Prove He is Steroid-Free to Have His License Back
It was in December 2 last year when Josh Barnett went to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) hoping that the commission will grant him a new license after his steroid suspension. But it turned out that the process is not easy. The commission decided to postpone the hearing since it would be better if Barnett will be accompanied by a legal counsel.
The former heavyweight champion was suspended by CSAC in July 2009 for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. He was suspended for one year and his license was revoked by the commission. Though Barnett already served the suspension, his relicensing will still depend on many factors. During his appearance in the December hearing, California Assistant Attorney General Alfredo Terrazas was present to question him about steroid use. CSAC requires him to present documents about his rehabilitation. Barnett must prove he is already clean of any performance enhancing drug by submitting to the commission negative results of steroid tests.
Barnett Fighting in StrikeForce
Barnett has one big problem. He is included in the main event of Strikeforce Tourney. The 3-round tournament which will begin on February 12 features 8 heavyweight fighters. This will be a clash of the best heavyweight MMA fighters which include Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Silva, Fabricio Werdum, Brett Rogers, Andrei Arlovski, Sergei Kharitonov, and Alistair Overeem. “It took us three months to put all this together,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com.
The first round will be held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. with Arlovski-Kharitonov and Emelianenko-Silva. The quarter final bout between Overeem-Werdum and Barnett-Rogers is scheduled in April. Coker added that they are still in the process of negotiating with a couple of venues and the specific dates of the succeeding bouts. “We’re just not ready to announce them just yet,” Coker said.
Barnett is in CSAC’s Agenda
The hearing of Barnett’s relicensing was already postponed several times. However, CSAC executive director George Dodd told Sherdog.com that Barnett’s case will be tackled in the February meeting of the commissioners. “He’s on the agenda for Feb. 4. If he doesn’t contact me by Jan. 10, he won’t be going in front of the commission. If everybody could just get together, we could get this taken care of,” said Dodd.
Barnett should be able to furnish the commission all the requirements before he can be allowed to fight again. “Josh will not be licensed in California until he appears before the commission and answers questions about past steroid usage, and also [addresses] the question of rehabilitation to have his license renewed,” Dodd told Sherdog.
Other state athletic commissions contacted by Coker have indicated that they can issue a license to Barnett provided he complies with the requirements similar to CSAC. “Let him go appeal to any state that has a commission. Josh has some work to do in California. But he’s paid his dues. Let him make a living and go to work. But I don’t think he’s going to be fighting in California,” said Coker.
[...] to now, MMA fighter Josh Barnett is still wondering why the California State Athletic Commission has not issued him a license. The [...]
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