ESPN reports that Glaico Franca, Luis Rafael Laurentino and Ramsey Nijem failed drug tests and could be disciplined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. All 3 participated in the PFL playoffs.
Franca and Laurentino tested positive for the banned steroid stnozolol and Nijem tested positive for marijuana. The fighters had their temporary suspensions extended by the NSAC at its monthly meeting and are expected to have full disciplinary hearings December 18th.
Fortunately for the organization, none of the athletes flagged advanced to the New Year’s Eve Finale for the promotion in New York.
Franca and Laurentino believe that supplements that they took may have been contaminated leading to the drug test failure. Franca reached the PFL welterweight semifinals on October 11th in Las Vegas before losing to David Michaud. Laurentino lost in the PFL featherweight quarterfinals to Jeremy Kennedy on October 17 and Nijem lost to Natan Schulte in the PFL lightweight quarterfinals.
Payout Perspective:
This is one of the potential issues with a tournament format for the PFL – the potential of a fighter failing a drug test. Regardless of whether it’s the fighter’s fault or a tainted supplement as Franca and Laurentino claim, the investigation regarding the testing failure would detour the tournament. Fortunately, these three would not have impacted the final for $1 million on December 31st.
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