Alistair Overeem denied license by NSAC for nine months

The soap opera of Alistair Overeem‘s failed drug test from the UFC 146 press conference came to a decisive close today in Las Vegas, and the results were not favorable for the former title contender and his team. He was handed down a nine month suspension from the Commission. Overeem’s defense of taking an anti-inflammatory injection which, unbeknownst to Overeem, contained testosterone did not suffice. The commissioners were stern in dealing with Overeem from the beginning, not granting a continuance because the doctor who prescribed the injection to Overeem was indeed present at the hearing.

Overeem and his legal team took a strong focus on the injuries Overeem had sustained in order to necessitate anti-inflammatories. The injuries went back from his foot injury prior to fighting Fabricio Werdum last summer to current ankle and thigh problems stemming from his December bout with Brock Lesnar.

Admittedly taking injections prior to the press conference, on March 23, he denied any knowledge of having to submit to the pre-fight press conference drug test until being called back after he left the event. The prescribing doctor in question, Dr. Molina, appeared. He stated that he had added testosterone to the injection he prescribed Overeem, in order to heal his nagging injuries rather than have a leg up on his opponents. Molina ended up saying that he may have told Overeem what he was exactly taking after all.

The decision brought down by the NSAC was no surprise to many, as his 14:1 T:E ratios on the test were just too high to grant a license. The vial of the substance he produced was also under question for the simplicity of its label. Now that the UFC all-Heavyweight main card is in place, Overeem will have to wait and see if he can return as soon as the year-ending UFC card.

Further Reading: Alistair Overeem breaks silence, explains elevated Testosterone levels