Rousimar Palhares passes drug test, cleared to fight for WSOF title Saturday night

Crisis averted.

Rousimar Palhares has passed his pre-fight drug test, and as a result, has been licensed by the Nevada Athletic Commission to fight Steve Carl at World Series of Fighting 9 this Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed with MMAFighting.com.

The NAC demanded Palhares take a random urinary drug test prior to receiving his license to fight approximately three weeks ago. However, since Palhares could not find a place to take the test in Brazil, he had to fly to Las Vegas early last week to do so. This forced WSOF to announce that should Palhares fail the test, they would move Tyler Stinson, who is scheduled to fight Josh Burkman on Saturday night, into the main event slot. Thankfully for the promotion, it never came to that.

Palhares tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following a December 2012 loss to Hector Lombard in the UFC, which led to a nine-month suspension.

“To be honest with you, I support the testing 100 percent. I think all fighters should be tested. But please give me a heads up or a notice, especially when you know the fighter is in Brazil. Or at least recommend somebody in Brazil for me to go to,” said WSOF Executive Vice President Ali Abdel-Aziz said last week.

“Rousimar was kind enough to get on the plane and to bring his camp and finish his camp here, and I know this is going to be difficult and stressful for him too.”

In the end, though, all’s well that ends well for Palhares, who’ll be making his WSOF debut Saturday night after his unceremonious release from the UFC late last year. All that’s left now is for both Palhares and the 170-pound champion Carl to successfully weigh-in at 170 pounds Friday afternoon.

WSOF 9 will air on NBCSN from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Saturday night.

Crisis averted.

Rousimar Palhares has passed his pre-fight drug test, and as a result, has been licensed by the Nevada Athletic Commission to fight Steve Carl at World Series of Fighting 9 this Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar confirmed with MMAFighting.com.

The NAC demanded Palhares take a random urinary drug test prior to receiving his license to fight approximately three weeks ago. However, since Palhares could not find a place to take the test in Brazil, he had to fly to Las Vegas early last week to do so. This forced WSOF to announce that should Palhares fail the test, they would move Tyler Stinson, who is scheduled to fight Josh Burkman on Saturday night, into the main event slot. Thankfully for the promotion, it never came to that.

Palhares tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone following a December 2012 loss to Hector Lombard in the UFC, which led to a nine-month suspension.

“To be honest with you, I support the testing 100 percent. I think all fighters should be tested. But please give me a heads up or a notice, especially when you know the fighter is in Brazil. Or at least recommend somebody in Brazil for me to go to,” said WSOF Executive Vice President Ali Abdel-Aziz said last week.

“Rousimar was kind enough to get on the plane and to bring his camp and finish his camp here, and I know this is going to be difficult and stressful for him too.”

In the end, though, all’s well that ends well for Palhares, who’ll be making his WSOF debut Saturday night after his unceremonious release from the UFC late last year. All that’s left now is for both Palhares and the 170-pound champion Carl to successfully weigh-in at 170 pounds Friday afternoon.

WSOF 9 will air on NBCSN from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Saturday night.