Four fighters fail drug tests at Bellator 127
Keith Berry, Nick Moghaddam, Rob Emerson, and Fernando Gonzalez each failed a drug test adminstered by the CSAC at Bellator 127.
Rumors swirled for weeks that there were some panicked faces when officials tested every fighter at Bellator 127. Now the California State Athletic Commission has released the results, and four fighters failed.
Keith Berry:
Tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, and marijuana. Split decision win over Joe Pacheco changed to a No Contest.
Nick Moghaddam:
Tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, and marijuana. Lost fight to Ray Sloan by unanimous decision, so the fight result stands.
Rob Emerson:
Tested positive for the prescription drug Provigil (Modafinil), which has been prohibited by WADA for a decade. Approved by the FDA In 1998 for the treatment of narcolepsy, and in 2003 for shift work sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, there have been several allegations of athletes using it as a performance enhancing drug. Sprinter Kelli White (2004), cyclist David Clinger (2010), and basketball player Diana Taurasi (2010) were caught allegedly using it as a doping agent. The MLB’s Barry Bonds allegedly used anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and Modafinil. It has been shown to prolong exercise time to exhaustion while performing at 85% of VO2max and also reduces the perception of effort required to maintain this threshold. It is also used illegally as a recreational drug, for its mild euphoric effects. Emerson lost a unanimous decision to Rafael Silva so the result will stand.
Fernando Gonzalez:
Tested positive for cannabinoids. Testing positive for cannabinoids in California results in a fine of $100 plus $215 for the cost of testing.
Further penalties have yet to be announced, but are expected.
Bellator CEO Scott Coker offered support for the CSAC.
I want to make very clear that under new management, Bellator will simply not stand for performance enhancing drugs inside our cage, said Coker said. We fully support the California State Athletic Commission in their process, and standby any disciplinary action handed out by Commissioner Andy Foster and the CSAC. Fans, media and our athletes need to have a clear understanding that drug use will simply not be tolerated by Bellator.