Online Sports Betting Thrown Off by MMA Star's Steroid Test
A positive steroid test by a mixed-martial arts star has put both the sport and online sports betting sites into disarray just days before a major competition. Josh Barnett, scheduled to fight Fedor Emelianenko, failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs, leaving the champion without an opponent.Emelianenko is considered by many to be the finest fighter, pound for pound, in the rapidly growing sport. The Russian heavyweight was listed at -450 against Barnett, who would have returned +300 with an upset victory.
The loss of a challenger for the August 1st date leaves Affliction, the company promoting the match, searching for a new opponent as it nears its biggest event to date. Affliction is trying to cut into the market share held by the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, the best-established MMA organization.
Affliction vice-president Tom Atencio says three potential fighters being considered are Vitor Belfort, who has been light heavyweight champion in the UFC, former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley, and Brett Rogers of Strikeforce.
Atencio, who is attempting to keep Emelianenko away from the UFC, must be having nightmares about the last-second substitution in the Kimbo Slice-Ken Shamrock fight. Seth Petruzelli subbed for an injured Shamrock and defeated Slice in seconds, costing Elite XC the reputation of its rising star, and leading to the company's bankruptcy.
Online sports betting on MMA events has grown at a breakneck pace, as the sport emerges from cult status into a mainstream event. The Affliction bout is scheduled to be the only big competition in the sport until the end of August, at which time the UFC will present a card.
The failed test marks Barnett's second positive steroids result. He also failed a test after beating then-champion Randy Couture in a UFC match in 2002, leaving him disqualified.
