MMA Fighting (via Sherdog) reports that Bellator’s Mike Richman has been suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for two years for taking performance enhancing drugs. Richman becomes the first fighter to be disciplined under the stricter penalties set forth by California, Nevada and the UFC.
The suspension is a result of a failed drug test from Bellator 137. Richman fought Eduardo Dantas in the co-main event of Bellator 137 last month in Temecula, California. He did not make for the fight against Dantas and lost via unanimous decision.
Richman announced via social media that he took anabolic steroids and expressed remorse for cheating. He indicated that no one else knew that he was taking PEDs. The 29-year-old Richman appears not to appeal the suspension based on his admission.
Bellator indicated that it would “stand behind the commission 100 percent” with respect to the suspension and find of Richman. In addition to the suspension, California levied the maximum monetary penalty on Richman of $2,500.
Payout Perspective:
While most of us will applaud the suspension and subsequent apology from Richman, the issue of whether the suspension is appropriate for the infraction. It appears that Richman will not appeal the suspension which means that he will miss out on two years of his prime due to failing just one test. This should serve as an example for others that the commission is willing to issue stiff penalties for those that attempt to cheat. We shall see how the commission handles a situation if (and when) another fighter fails a drug test but decides to appeal the decisions.
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