(Come on, would we let you down?)
So #1 UFC heavyweight title contender Alistair Overeem failed a late March surprise drug test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for having a testosterone to epitestosterone ratio level higher than five men of Krypton and is now scheduled to appear before the commission in one week to ask for a license to face champ Junior Dos Santos May 26th. But not to worry, Reem fans: Alistair’s manager assures that his fighter will have a “reasonable explanation” for his unreasonable levels, according to Inside MMA‘s Ron Kruck, via CagedInsider.
“I spoke with Glenn Robinson, manager of Overeem and he says he is very respectful and is hopeful that he will be granted his license and the entire team is very confident that he will be facing Junior dos Santos come May 26th,” Kruck said.
“Now Robinson wanted to make it very clear that despite other reports, Overeem did not test high for testosterone, but rather his testosterone to epitestosterone was off and he has a reasonable explanation to why that is, which he will present to the commission next Tuesday.”
If the UFC hadn’t refused to replace Overeem to this point and rule out most viable possible replacements should he not get licensed — and if the NSAC wasn’t in a tricky position of dealing with their first-ever positive test from an out-of-competition surprise test, coupled with their past openness to allowing therapeutic use exemptions for things like testosterone replacement therapy — we’d say Robinson was nuts for thinking his client would get licensed. But as it stands, who knows?
Overeem can still apply for a TUE, and the commission can grant it. We’ll see what defense he gives and if the commission will buy it, in light of his toying with their emotions regulations before his last fight.