Affliction’s Tom Atencio confirmed reports that heavyweight standout Josh Barnett failed a drug test. Having failed the recent California State Athletic Commission test, Barnett will not be sanctioned for his August 1 fight with Fedor Emelianenko.
“He tested positive for a banned substance,” said Atencio. “The athletic commission will not reinstate his license.”
Regarding the replacement opponent for Fedor, the latest word is that Brett Rogers has become a frontrunner for the gig. The heavyweight fighter, who is coming off a 22 second knockout victory over Andrei Arlovski, is, however, under contract with Strikeforce and might not receive permission to take the fight. As of press time, neither Showtime nor Scott Coker had weighed in on the situation.
Vitor Belfort, as noted early Wednesday morning, has accepted the bout in principle and will likely get the fight if a deal cannot be reached with Rogers.
Affliction remains interested in Bobby Lashley, but according to American Top Team (Lashley’s camp), Lashley has turned down the fight. Affliction reportedly offered the former ECW Champion and current TNA wrestler $500,000 for the bout, but Lashley’s camp rejected the offer, believing that such big-money opportunities will come in the future without requiring Lashley to fight someone like Fedor with less than two weeks notice (and no training). Affliction is reportedly expected to return with a bigger offer, although most do not anticipate Lashley accepting.
Affliction was hoping to formally announce the opponent by day’s end.
