Report: After failed drug test, Josh Barnett's next step a professional wrestling bout by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jul 28, 2009 at 12:35 pm ET This content is protected After a failed pre-fight drug test led to his removal from the recently canceled "Affliction: Trilogy" event, top heavyweight contender Josh Barnett (24-5) will look to return to action on Aug. 9. But the "Babyfaced Assassin" will be trading in his MMA gloves for a fight of the pre-arranged variety. AOL FanHouse is reporting Barnett has agreed to wrestle in Japan's Inoki Genome Federation. Barnett has yet to speak publicly about his future since his positive test, but AOL FanHouse was able to verify the heavyweight's status through his manager, Shannon Hooper. Barnett's only public comments on the situation came via a MySpace bulletin posted shortly after the news of the positive test was made public. "My representatives and I are working to gather as much info as possible and handle this situation as best as we can," Barnett stated. "I am embarrassed and want for nothing more than to resolve this issue and receive a license from the State of California as I have done many times already and for other states as well." Barnett was forced out of his "Affliction: Trilogy" main-event fight with Fedor Emelianenko due to a drug test that detected a metabolite (2a-methyl-5a-androstan- 3a-ol-17-one) of the anabolic steroid Drostanolone. The failed drug test and Barnett's subsequent removal from his main event bout led to the eventual cancellation of "Affliction: Trilogy" and eventually the collapse of the promotion. Barnett's "B" sample result has yet to be revealed by the California State Athletic Commission, but the positive result was the 31-year-old's third in his 12-year career. His only options in MMA is in Japan. Theres no way he comes back West. For a very smart fighter Barnett ****ed up here and was pretty lazy. Obviously doesnt have as many friends in the NSAC as the UFC....
cool, good article i dont understand how someone with as much talent as barnett keeps ****ing up like this. it is frustrating to someone who has been a barnett fan for awhile.
woth dan severn as special guest referee and bobby lashley to control outside the ring as a special guest enforcer:thumbsup
Bleh.....Barnett vs Batista would be a natural, if Barnett could be 'developed' in OVW for couple of months before hand.
Josh working that BS WWE style would be horrible. He knows how to work. He had about 50 matches in New Japan Pro-wrestling.
