The failed drug test that cost Josh Barnett a slot in the Affliction: Trilogy main event with Fedor Emelianenko was not random or part of the California State Athletic Commission's recently implemented year-round, out-of-competition testing.

In a statement recently issued on MySpace, Barnett stated that he voluntarily took the test as part of his license renewal for the Aug. 1 event in Anaheim, Calif.

(However, in an interview with AOL FanHouse, CSAC executive Bill Douglas said the test was, in fact, the commission's first random test.)

"I had no reason to believe there would be any issues and went in to submit my sample at the earliest possible opportunity on June 25," Barnett wrote.

On Wednesday Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio confirmed that Barnett had been pulled from the card and that a search is underway for a new opponent. The California State Athletic Commission later issued a statement and clarified that Barnett tested positive for a metabolite of the anabolic steroid Drostanolone.

The test was administered on June 25, and the CSAC received the results this past Tuesday.

It's the second failed drug test for Barnett, who also tested positive for an anabolic steroid (and was stripped of the UFC heavyweight title in 2002).

Barnett wrote:

"Many of you are wondering what's happening. What I can say is that when applying for my license, the CSAC asked for me to submit a urine sample for testing prior to granting my license as they do with everyone, I believe.

It was not a random test. I had no reason to believe there would be any issues and went in to submit my sample at the earliest possible opportunity on June 25. I never once thought there would be a problem.

"My representatives and I are working to gather as much info as possible and handle this situation as best we can. 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.

"I am very thankful for all the great family, friends and fans that still support me."

As MMA Junkie reported on Wednesday, Atencio stated during Wednesday's conference call that Barnett had requested the CSAC to test his "B" sample. Believing there may have been an error with his original sample, Barnett, Atencio said, is hopeful the matter can be resolved and he can still be licensed in time for the Aug. 1 pay-per-view event.

Vitor Belfort, a middleweight who's slated to fight Jorge Santiago on the Affliction: Trilogy main card, is the leading candidate to replace Barnett, though Affliction has been in communication with a variety of fighters.

None, though, is likely to be as big of a draw as Barnett, who's widely regarded as the world's second-ranked heavyweight behind Emelianenko.

Source: mmajunkie.com