MMA Fighting reports that Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice have failed drug tests according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The results relate to their featured fights at Bellator 149 last month.
The exact substances taken by each fighter have not been revealed “due to potential pending litigation” according to the MMA Fighting article. Both fighters have been administratively suspended by the regulatory body in Texas.
Bellator MMA had no comment as of Friday afternoon.
Bellator 149 on Spike TV was the highest-rated event for the company in its history as it drew 1.9 million viewers. Both fights drew well over 2 million. Slice is 42 years old. Shamrock is 52.
Payout Perspective:
The drug test failures are a black mark on the promotion’s best showing on television. While the ratings have soared with these tentpole events, the aftermath of Bellator 149 (Dada hospitalized, drug test failures) should give pause as to the promotion direction. The drug test failures (luckily the event was in Texas) could have caused more of an impact for the company. But, this news should have the company consider whether a drug testing program is necessary.
I don’t think anyone is stunned about Shamrock and what is really pathetic is he ranted on and on about how Gracie cheated and how he was wronged, etc. I say the knee to the balls was karma.
Pathetic end to a pathetic event.
The Kimbo win will be overturned to a NC and that means DADA 5000 is still undefeated!
Is anyone surprised by this? The sport has a horrible record for PED use, and it should not come to ANY surprise that both of these fighters are using. Shamrock of course bulked up to around 240-250 lbs for the WWE, which I am sure effected his natural test level productions for the rest of his life. I am not surprised that he would be on something. Same goes for Kimbo. I am sure next week or two we will have another fighter testing positive for something.
Wil, every sport has a horrible record of PED use.
The testing in mma is more comprehensive than the testing in any major sport in the US.
d on March 12th, 2016 7:47 AM
“Daddy said that happens in every sport”
D what makes it better than any other sport?
USADA testing- both in and out of competition at random.
I would think any “league” (which the UFC basically is as the fighters are basicaly employees of the company complete with uniforms) or franchise can test at any time.
Wil, absolutely false. The major sports league’s testing are a joke. They do not random blood test any time and even the standard urine tests are widely known. Aaron Hernandez was a marijuana chain smoker who knew exactly when the tests would come up in order to beat them. The 4 major sports leagues do not have the same level of testing.
All of those other leagues also have unions where the players association does everything they can to limit testing. The same can’t be said for the UFC.