King Mo Lawal Drug Test Positive for Steroids, Denies Taking Anything
Posted on 17 Jan, Bleacherreport
Popular Strikeforce fighter Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Keith Kizer, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, informed MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.
Lawal recently defeated rising light heavyweight talent Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas.
While numerous other athletes on the fight card were tested and came up clean, Lawal tested positive. The following athletes were tested: Luke Rockhold, Keith Jardine, Robbie Lawler, Muhammed Lawal, Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, Tyler Stinson, Nah-Shon Burrell, James Terry, Gian Villante, Trevor Smith, Ricky Legere, Chris Spang, Estevan Payan and Alonzo Martinez.
“All athletes tested negative for prohibited substances, except Mr. Lawal who tested positive for Drostanolone,” wrote Kizer in an email.
Lawal, when contacted by MMAWeekly.com denied having knowingly taken a steroid. “I never took nothing,” he said. “Drostanolone, I don’t even know what that is!”
No disciplinary sanctions have yet been applied to Lawal, but Kizer told MMAWeekly.com, “The matter has been referred to the Attorney General’s office for issuance of a complaint for disciplinary action.”
Kizer stressed that each case is handled on its own merits, but that “9 to 12 months has been the most common suspension in the past, along with a major fine” typically equating to 30 to 50 percent of the fighter’s purse.