Barnett Granted Extension to CSAC Appeal

LOS ANGELES -- Josh Barnett was granted an extension Monday for an appeals hearing the fighter had requested after the California State Athletic Commission denied his re-licensure in late July due to a positive pre-fight test for an anabolic steroid. The new hearing date will be Oct. 26 or 27.

Barnett was pulled from a headlining bout against Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The event was cancelled a few days later.

Barnett did not answer calls and texts for comment.

The CSAC notified Barnett on July 21 that he had tested positive for the anabolic steroid 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one in a June 25 pre-test conducted to renew his license in the state. A second sample was laboratory-tested and came back with the same results on July 29, said the CSAC.

Barnett, 31, was suspended for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 2002 due to a post-fight urinalysis that revealed the presence of Boldenone, Fluoxymesterone and Nandrolone metabolites in his body when he defeated Randy Couture to win the heavyweight title at UFC 36. Barnett denied using the anabolic steroids and challenged the NSAC’s testing protocol.

Check out more notes from Monday's CSAC meeting