Josh Barnett’s failure to produce a clean drug-screening test prior to Affliction: Trilogy is one of the most well-known examples in Mixed Martial Arts history. After all, it crashed an entire promotion.
Barnett, who disputes the findings of that particular urinalysis, appeared by himself before the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) in early December of 2010 to make his appeal. Barnett found himself sitting opposite a highly-prepared prosecutor who was up-to-date on his case and eager to argue the merits of it. Barnett was urged to make his appeal at a later date alongside a proper legal counsel. Barnett later commented that the procedure “felt like an ambush.”
Barnett’s appeal was moved to February 4, 2011. The date is of particular interest since, if Barnett was cleared of charges against him at the appeal, it would allow him to regain his license in California State and signal to other commissions that he is worthy of licensure just prior to his reported match-up in Strikeforce’s recently announced heavyweight tournament.
Yet, if you ask Josh Barnett’s manager it would appear that clearing his name in California is just a formality. Speaking to MMAFA.tv, Barnett’s manager shared the camp’s mentality:
“Josh is not currently under suspension by any athletic commission and has never been suspended by the CSAC so that is not currently a factor in his fighting career.”
And it would appear so. Scott Coker, CEO of Strikeforce, recently intimated to ESPN that he has engaged in discussions with regulatory bodies outside of California that are willing to look past Barnett’s history and current legal battle with the CSAC. Additionally, CSAC Commissioner George Dodd appears skeptical that Josh will even show up at his hearing on Feb. 4:
“He could appear at his hearing, but he has not contacted us on whether he will attend or not. He made contact with us last time [and appeared], but not this time. We’re trying to figure this out. I am having my attorneys contact his to find out whether he’s going to do this or not. So far we’ve heard nothing. He has until January 10 to let us know.”
Dodd also states that Barnett’s management is correct in their claim that his license was not suspended, but that’s not the whole story: Barnett’s request to renew his license was denied in the first place. If he appears before the CSAC it will be to reinstate his license in California.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker may also be seeing Barnett’s situation through rose-tinted glasses. Two of Strikeforce’s upcoming events, where Barnett is expected to participate, may deny him a license as well. Speaking to MMAFA.tv, New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJAC) head Nick Lembo explained the situation:
“I have no paperwork whatsoever, no application whatsoever, for Josh Barnett… Anything and everything that is relevant regarding a fighter’s history will be taken into consideration [during the approval process].”
Strikeforce plans to hold an event at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on February 12, just eight days after Barnett’s scheduled hearing with the CSAC.
Ohio State Athletic Commissioner Bernie Profato spoke with MMAFA.tv as well, sounding more resolute and less optimistic regarding Barnett’s chances to compete at Strikeforce’s event in Columbus, Ohio on March 5:
“First off, they’d have to get whatever situation is going on in California cleared up. That’s even before we consider it. And I don’t have anything here showing that [Barnett] is attempting to get licensed in the state of Ohio.
“We check every fighter out. I they have something pending somewhere else, and that’s the case here, then we have to get that straightened out with the organization that it’s pending with. And if there’s history of a drug situation, we would have them come out here and produce a clean drug test, probably at Ohio State University at the medical clinic. Anybody who has tested positive before would have to do that prior to the event. We have to keep up the integrity of the sport.”
NJAC Executive Nick Lembo went on to state that the process of approving a fighter’s license application can take anywhere from a few days a considerably longer period of time depending on the circumstances surrounding the application.
“It could be a few days, assuming everything is complete. It could be months, like the Mike Tyson hearing. Also, a license in New Jersey isn’t just granted on the application itself; it’s in conjunction with the medicals. The fighter would have to complete the medicals as well to be considered for a license.”
It is reported that Strikeforce has reservation bouts planned should a fighter like Barnett not be able to compete in the planned tournament. Fighters who are liable to replace one of the original participants include Dan Cormier, Lavar Johnson and Shane Del Rosario.