Belfort and Nastula Test + - MMAUniverse.com

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) have released the results of the post Pride 32: The Real Deal drugs tests.

Of the ten fighters tested Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Coleman, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Kevin Randleman, Josh Barnett, Phil Baroni, Dan Henderson and Yosuke Nishijima passed, but Vitor Belfort and Pawel Nastula’s reports came back positive.

According to the NSAC, Vitor Belfort tested positive for the anabolic steroid, 4-Hydroxytestosterone and Pawel Nastula’s sample contained traces of Nandrolone.

Ironically both fighters lost their matches. Belfort lost to a unanimous judge’s decision to Dan Henderson and Nastula fell to a Josh Barnett ankle lock in round 1.

Drugs testing is a new experience for the Pride organisation, as in Japan steroid use is almost completely overlooked. Anabolic steroid use simply isn’t an issue in Japan and no main stream professional sport tests for them, Pride FC included. The Nevada State Athletic Commission on the other hand has actually become more stringent in recent times. The NSAC have gone from testing an average four fighters per MMA event in the past, to testing seven UFC 64: Unstoppable fighters, and ten from Pride 32.

The former UFC Champion, Vitor Belfort and the 1996 Olympic Judo Gold Medallist Pawel Nastula join Kimo Leopoldo and Stephan Bonnar in the NSAC dog house for Mixed Martial Artists testing positive in Nevada for banned substances in 2006.

Nastula and Belfort both face possible suspensions and /or fines. However both are entitled to defend their case in front of a NSAC council at some point in the coming months if they wish.