Josh Barnett has passed a pre-fight drug test and will be licensed to fight at a Sept. 10 Strikeforce event bearing his name. Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato today confirmed the news to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"In fairness to this young man, he cooperated 110 percent," Profato said.
Barnett (30-5 MMA, 1-0 SF) meets Sergei Kharitonov (18-4 MMA, 1-0 SF) in the main event of "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov," which takes place Sept. 10 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. The heavyweight fight serves as one of two semifinal bouts in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament with Antonio Silva vs. Daniel Cormier occupying the opposite bracket. The event's main card airs on Showtime.
Profato said additional drug testing is standard procedure for athletes who previously have failed a screen. The California State Athletic Commission, of course, denied Barnett a license to fight in summer 2009. Seven years prior, he was flagged for steroids following his title-winning fight against Randy Couture at UFC 36. He was later stripped of the title.
"So we had him tested, and we're satisfied that he's clean, as far as coming into the fight, and we're going to test all four of [the grand-prix fighters] plus a couple of random fights at the event," he said.
The test, which Profato said was an "extensive" procedure, took place 10 days ago at an independent, OAC-approved facility in Southern California.
"Initially, I was going to say, 'You've got to come here to Ohio.' But in fairness to any athlete, when they're in the height of their training, why should the state of Ohio ... break up this guy's training regime?" Profato said.
Under the directive of Strikeforce, Barnett and other tournament competitors underwent drug testing prior to "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum," which took place this past June in Dallas. Barnett submitted Brett Rogers to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
"He hasn't done anything for us not to issue him a license," Profato said. "He's met all the requirements we've asked of him."
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