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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal has tested positive for anabolic steroids out of his January 7 bout with Lorenz Larkin, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced on Tuesday.
Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanalone, per the NSAC. While the exact disciplinary action against him has not yet been announced, a likely one year revocation of his license, a fine, and the overturning of his win over Larkin to a "no contest" is likely to result.
According to online sources, Drostanalone is a popular diuretic for weight-cutting among athletes. In comments made to MMAJunkie.com, Lawal denied using any performance enhancing drugs, but didn't elaborate and left things at that.
Lawal's positive test is the second high-profile steroid test failure for Strikeforce in the last month, as Women's Featherweight Champ Cris "Cyborg" Santos tested positive herself following a win over Hiroko Yamanaka in December.
Additionally, this is the second straight opponent for Larkin who has tested positive for a banned substance after their fight, as Nick Rossborough failed a performance enhancing drug test following their bout in September.
Penick's Analysis: We're likely to get another situation here where a fighter blames a supplement, but regardless, the end result is he tested positive, and will be suspended at least for six months. He'll likely appeal it, as Cris "Cyborg" appears to be set to do, and may get a year-long suspension reduced, but it's getting harder and harder to believe any athlete's story that tests positive. We'll see what else he has to say, but for now the only facts are that he has tested positive. What is worse right now is, if he was indeed on something for this fight, the additional blows referee Kim Winslow allowed Lorenz Larkin to take are even more brutal thinking about them now.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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