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Receives Six-Month Suspension By Loretta Hunt Much like the quiet and sometimes aloof fighter himself, Kimo Leopoldo's hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission over steroid allegations came and went without a whisper this past Wednesday. The UFC, WFA, and K-1 veteran was present at the 8:30 am meeting to answer to charges that his June 28th urinalysis test results came back positive for various drugs and/or stimulants. According to NSAC Senior Deputy Attorney General Michael Mersch, Leopoldo admitted to voluntarily taking the anabolic steroid stanozolol metabolite, as well as the stimulants phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine prior to his main event bout with Ken Shamrock at June 19th's UFC 48. These substances are not approved for use by the NSAC and Leopoldo acknowledged his awareness of this at the hearing.
In explanation, Mersch says Leopoldo alleged that it was a knee injury sustained in training that led him to taking the substances approximately one to six weeks prior to his bout with Shamrock, although Commissioner Dr. Phil Homansky was quick to point out that these specific substances would not have aided the fighter in his recovery. Mersch described Kimo's mood as "very contrite and forthcoming" as the humbled heavyweight communicated that the entire affair was not only embarrassing for him, but also detrimental to his reputation as a professional athlete. Upon Leopoldo's apology to the five-member board, the fighter was suspended from competition in Nevada for six months, making him eligible to fight again on February 11, 2005. He was also assessed a $5,000 fine. Says Mersch, "The prior imposition of fines and/or suspensions regarding other MMA licensees, as well as Fernando Vargas, was discussed to give the Commission some perspective on how discipline on other licensees had been imposed." In the past, NSAC disciplinary actions have been actively recognized and upheld for their duration by other athletic commissions and sanctioning bodies in the U.S. Upon completion of his sentence, Leopoldo will have to provide a clean drug test to the NSAC prior to his license reinstatement. FCF could not reach Leopoldo for comment. | ||||
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