Alexander Shlemenko Suspended For Elevated Testosterone Levels
Building on former light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton’s recent drug test failure for marijuana at Bellator 134, former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander ‘Storm’ Shlemenko has been popped for elevated testosterone levels after his spinning backfist knockout of Melvin Manhoef at February 13’s Bellator 133 from Fresno, California.
As punishment, Shlemenko has been suspended indefinitely and was fined $2,500, California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) director Andy Foster confirmed to MMA Fighting. His win over Manhoef, his second in a row after losing the middleweight crown to Brandon Halsey at Bellator 126, has been changed to a no contest.
Bellator President Scott Coker issued a statement on the unfortunate news.
“We are disappointed to hear about the results of Shlemenko’s drug test. As I’ve stated previously, performance-enhancing drugs have no place in this sport, and Bellator fully supports the commission in enforcing harsh penalties to deter fighters from taking banned substances.”
It’s hardly a secret that the UFC and MMA as a whole has received a sizeable black eye from the high-profile drug test failures of marquee names Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Nick Diaz, and Hector Lombard, but now Bellator has thrown their name into the mix with two high-profile drug test failures, at least for them.
Prior to his win over Manhoef, Shlemenko had lost two straight fights to bruising wrestlers inside the Bellator cage, something that may have had much to do with the news of his unfortunate indiscretion.
Emelio Chavez also failed a drug test for marijuana at Bellator 133, and Foster stated that he had been suspended for 30 days and fined $100 plus the cost of the test.
