Sep 3, 2016; Hamburg, Germany; Josh Barnett (blue gloves) after defeating Andrei Arlovski (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Barclaycard Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports Josh Barnett has been notified of another potential violation.
Another UFC veteran has been notified of a potential anti-doping violation, as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh “The Warmaster” Barnett (35-8). Apparently, the positive test came back from an out of competition test on December 9th.
With all of these particular notifications, of course, there is an opportunity to appeal for Barnett. He will have the ability to have a full legal review. This, however, is not the first time Josh Barnett has failed a drug test in his mixed martial arts career. Barnett is coming off a victory just recently over fellow veteran Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski (25-13 1NC # 7 Ranked Heavyweight) in September.
Back to Barnett’s past history of positive tests, including back to back UFC appearances at UFC34 where he was warned of a positive screen and then after he defeated then Heavyweight Champion Randy “The Natural” Couture (19-11) at UFC 36 and was immediately stripped of the title.
After that positive test Barnett left the UFC for 10 years and spent much of his time fighting in PRIDE in Japan and for a multitude of other promotions.
The second instance where Barnett tested positive cost him a shot at fighting arguably the best Heavyweight in MMA history Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (36-4) in 2009 and arguably that bouts cancellation closed down the Affliction MMA promotion. The canceling of that main event led to the promotion itself folding.
That time Barnett tested positive for an anabolic steroid. For Barnett, this most recent run-in with USADA will certainly be another black eye on his record with the fans and MMA historians if it turns out that it is for a banned performance enhancing substance. Only time will tell, but any type of suspension at this time in Barnett’s career may mean we have seen the last of The Warmaster inside the UFC’s Octagon.
