Former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko plans on fighting his recent failed drug test.
According to a press release issued by Shlemenko’s management team, the Russian fighter is hoping to clear his name, with the help of his lawyer Howard Jacobs, in an upcoming California State Athletic Commission hearing.
“[Shlemenko’s] representatives have requested and are still awaiting the complete laboratory documentation package from the CSAC, given the extremely unusual and questionable findings that have been initially reported,” the release stated. “The document request that has been made is consistent with the types of documents that the testing laboratory used in this case routinely provides — without the necessity for such a request — in cases involving the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
“It is impossible for Mr. Shlemenko to properly respond to these charges until he is provided with this basic documentation, and it is hoped that CSAC will not withhold such basic documentation.”
Last month, CSAC announced that Shlemenko (51-9, 1 NC) failed his post-Bellator 133 drug tested for elevated testosterone levels. As a result, the commission decided to suspend Shlemenko indefinitely and fine him $2,500. Shlemenko finished Melvin Manhoef via spinning backfist at the event, however, CSAC has since overturned the result to a no contest.
CSAC executive director Andy Foster told MMAFighting.com that Shlemenko hasn’t formally appealed the suspension, rather his team has simply requested further information and the attorney general is in the process of supplying it. As a result, Shlemenko doesn’t have a hearing date lined up yet.
“We are disappointed to hear about the results of Shlemenko’s drug test,” Bellator MMA president Scott Coker said in a statement following CSAC’s announcement. “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.”