Another Strikeforce mixed martial artist tested positive for anabolic steroids this week. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal tested positive for the anabolic steroids drostanolone at the “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” event on January 7, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Drostanolone is more commonly known amongst bodybuilders and athletes by its trade name Masteron. Lawal went on recored denying the use of steroids.
The announcement of Lawal’s steroid positive test comes only a few days after the California State Athletic Commission reported that female MMA champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos had Winstrol metabolites in her latest urinalysis. Strikeforce has lost two of their high profile MMA stars due to anabolic steroids in only the first few days of the new year.
Lawal was a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and had hoped to recapture the title sometime this year. The post-fight steroid positive has taken Lawal out of contention. Strikeforce has yet to announce the length of the suspension but doping bans usually range from six-months to one year.
“King MO” defeated the previously unbeaten Lorenz Larkin with a second-round knockout at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine”. The victory has been changed to “no contest” due to the Masteron positive.
Lorenz Larkin has had a string of bad luck having faced two consecutive opponents who were using anabolic steroids when they fought him.
Larkin defeated Nick Rossborough, his previous opponent prior to Lawal, in September at Strikeforce Challengers 19. Rossborough was subsequently busted with an elevated testosterone:epitestosterone (T:E) ratio. An elevated T:E ratio is indicative of exogenous testosterone use.
Larkin was not so lucky with Lawal. Nonetheless, Larkin takes no satisfaction in the fact that Lawal was caught using steroids. Larkin told Sherdog that he continues to respect Lawal and wishes him the best.
“Regardless of steroid use or not, I don’t look at this as a win on my record, because it’s not,” said Larkin. “I have watched tape and I am back in the gym improving how I lost that fight. I will be ready for whatever Strikeforce wants to do regarding who I am fighting next and the light heavyweight division.”
Source:
Marrocco, S. (January 17, 2012). Strikeforce’s ‘King Mo’ Lawal tests positive for anabolic steroid, fighter denies use. Retrieved from http://mmajunkie.com/news/27008/strikeforces-king-mo-lawal-tests-positive-for-anabolic-steroid-fighter-denies-use.mma
Nelson, C. (January 17, 2012). Larkin Responds to Lawal Steroid Test, Calls Result ‘Disappointing’. Retrieved from http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Larkin-Responds-to-Lawal-Steroid-Test-Calls-Result-Disappointing-39269
