MMA Heavyweight James Thompson Tested Positive for Masteron After Losing at Bellator 191

James Thompson, a veteran heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from England, was hoping to revive his career at Bellator 191 after decisive losses in his previous two bouts. That didn’t happen. To make matters worse, Thompson failed the post-fight drug test.

Thompson tested positive for an anabolic steroid called drostanolone. Drostanolone is the active ingredient in the injectable steroid product most commonly known as Masteron by bodybuilders and athletes. The steroid positive resulted from a sample collected after Bellator 191 in Newcastle, England on December 15, 2017.

Mike Mazzulli, the President of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports as well as the Executive Director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations, announced the drug test results from Bellator in statement released on December 29, 2017. Mazzulli was previously hired to oversee Bellator’s anti-doping program at international events in May 2016.

The bad news only compounded Thompson’s disappointment from his loss at Bellator 191. Thompson lost by submission after opponent Philip De Fries placed him in a guillotine choke. The 6-foot-5-inch and 290 pound heavyweight fighter has been a professional MMA fighter for 14 years. Unfortunately, his last victory came in 2014. He lost his last two fights by TKO (punches) against Tsuyoshi Kohsaka and Bobby Lashley at Rizin Fighting Federation 1 and Bellator 145, respectively.

If Thompson was hoping for a revival of his career, he will have to wait another year. The Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations suspended Thompson for one year and fined him $2000 as the penalty for the anti-doping violation. 

The earliest chance he will have to fight again in any United States-based MMA promotion will be on December 15, 2018. And that will only be possible if Thompson submits a clean drug test. However, Thompson could return to the Rizin Fighting Federation in Japan which doesn’t bother with silly things like steroid testing.

Source:

Floyd, J. (December 29, 2017). James Thompson suspended 1 year after testing positive for Drostanolone at Bellator 191. Retrieved from themmareport.com/2017/12/james-thompson-suspended-1-year-testing-positive-drostanolone-bellator-191/