Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed (King Mo) Lawal’s recent failed drug test has turned out to be a costly one.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended the 31-year-old mixed martial arts fighter for nine months and stripped him of his January win over Lorenz Larkin as a results of his positive test for the anabolic steroid drostanolone, according to MMAjunkie.com.
Lawal had defeated Larkin by second-round knockout in an impressive showing at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas, but he later failed the post-fight drug test. Lawal claimed the result was due to the use of an over-the-counter supplement, S-Mass Lean Gainer, that he took to help with a persistent knee injury.
The fight result has been changed to a no-contest, and his suspension is retroactive to the day of the fight, meaning he won’t be able to compete in Nevada again until October 7, at which point he will also be required to provide a clean drug test before applying for a new fight licence.
Lawal was also fined 30 per cent of his show purse (which was $80,000) and his full $15,000 win bonus.
Lawal appeared at the commission hearing on Tuesday with his manager Mike Kogan. They did not dispute the result, but argued there was no intent from the fighter.
However, he admitted that he did not disclose its usage on his pre-fight questionnaire. Meanwhile, a doctor representing the NSAC said it could not be proven that it was the supplement in question that caused the positive test.
The commission voted unanimously to impose the sanctions, much to the dismay of Lawal, who expressed in a tweet that the case he and his manager prepared for the hearing was not fairly considered.
I shoulda stayed home! Lol. NSAC had they mind made up b4 we got there! Lol. All the research we did and disclosed to em! They ignored! LOL
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) March 27, 2012
