Issue 021
January 2007
PRIDE fighters test positive
Kevin Randleman has been accused of supplying a false urine sample following his appearance on PRIDE 32 in Las Vegas, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer has revealed.
Randleman was one of three fighters from the event to be cited by the commission for irregularities in their urine samples. Referring to Randleman’s sample, Kizer said “It was either allegedly non-human urine or urine from a dead human being”.
Vitor Belfort and Pawel Nastula were the other athletes cited by the NSAC, with both men testing positive for controlled substances. Belfort, who lost by unanimous decision to Dan Henderson on the card, tested positive for 4-hydroxytestosterone, which is legally defined as an anabolic steroid.
In a letter to the NSAC Belfort said this: “All I have to say is that I bought a supplement called 'Max Tribostak' at Max Muscle in La Habra, California, which contains 4-Hydroxytestosterone. I had no idea that a supplement bought over the counter at a vitamin store would contain a substance that is illegal in the state of Nevada.”
Like Belfort and Nastula, each of whom lost bouts despite testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, Randleman has 20 days to respond to the NSAC after receiving the regulatory body's written complaint. Potential punishments levied on the former UFC heavyweight champion could include having his license to fight suspended and the possibility of a fine up to $250,000.
Belfort's and Nastula’s cases are still pending in front of the commission. Of the fighters who appeared on the PRIDE Las Vegas show, ten fighters were drug tested. Nastula tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone and the banned stimulants phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine.
The seven Pride fighters who were drug tested and passed are Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Coleman, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson, Phil Baroni, and Yosuke Nishijima. The other six fighters on the card were not drug tested.
‘Never Submit’ casting begins
An open casting call for a mixed martial arts feature film titled ‘Never Submit’ is to take place on Sunday December 10th.
Imperia Entertainment, inc. President James Hergott announced the event is in conjunction with the grand opening of Gracie Barra Countryside’s new facility, and will feature a special Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar hosted by Marcio Feitosa. Also in attendance will be world and five time female Brazilian champion Kyra Gracie.
The casting call is open to actors, fighters and aspiring thespians from Chicago, Iowa and Midwest areas. Additional casting locations, dates and times will be announced in the coming weeks. North American stops may include Las Vegas, Texas, Southern California, New York City, Oregon and Canada.
PRIDE Fighting Championships superstars Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua have already been cast and top fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Sean Sherk, Ken Shamrock, Phil Baroni and Forrest Griffin are slated to audition for roles in the film.
More information can be found at www.neversubmit.com.
Former boxer to sign with PRIDE
WBC super flyweight Masamori Tokuyama has confirmed that he is to fight with PRIDE FC. He has returned his title belt and retired from boxing to enter the PRIDE ring. Japanese media have speculated his debut will be on the NYE event Shockwave.
Though he fights at the boxing weight of super flyweight (115lbs or 52.2kgs) his natural weight is around 60-65kg, which could hint at PRIDE’s rumoured intention of instituting a 65kg (145lb) division.
Ranallo resigns from PRIDE
PRIDE Fighting Championships commentator Mauro Ranallo has resigned from his post, citing differences with production staff as his motive for leaving.
The Canadian play-by-play announcer, who worked for PRIDE for almost 30 events, informed the promotion of his resignation just prior to PRIDE Bushido 13. “I felt it was an untenable environment to work in. It was commonly known since day one that I’ve had difficulties with the American producer, Jerry Millen,” said Ranallo today.
Ranallo joined PRIDE’s broadcast team in October 2003. He was drafted in as a replacement for the ‘Fight Professor’ Stephan Quadros’ job and has worked alongside Bas Rutten and Frank Trigg.
Stephan Bonnar says “Sorry”
UFC light-heavyweight Stephan Bonnar has publicly apologised for failing a post-fight drug test.
Bonnar, 29 years old and with a record of 9-4-0, tested positive for a controlled substance following his high-profile rematch with Forrest Griffin in August.
“I’m sorry for this stupid
decision and promise never to make this mistake again,” he said on his website.
Bonnar has claimed that he unknowingly took the substance due to a supplement he bought on the Internet in 2004. He said he took the supplement thinking it would help heal a nagging
elbow injury. Instead, he said it showed the same result as an injectable steroid.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has placed a 9-month suspension ban on Bonnar and fined him $5,000, although the ban is retroactive to August 26th. Bonnar will be eligible to fight again in May.
