MMA's Gracie tests positive for steroids

Ultimate fighter could face up to a year's suspension

06/15/2007

Ultimate fighter Royce Gracie tested positive for a steroid after winning a bout this month at the Coliseum and could face a year's suspension, the head of the California Athletic Commission said Friday.

Gracie, 40, tested positive for a nandrolone metabolite steroid after beating Kazushi Sakuraba on June 2.

Gracie will be suspended and fined up to $2,500, but has 30 days to appeal the decision, said Armando Garcia, the panel's executive officer.

"I am waiting to receive the official report from the CSAC on the findings," Gracie said in an e-mail Friday. "Once the report is received, it will be reviewed."

"I will appeal the decision for sure, I have been a fighter for 14years and have never taken any illegal substances, so I am sure this is just a misunderstanding."

"I don't think it's a clear case yet," said Mike Kogan, event director of Japan's Fighting and Entertainment Group, which promoted the fight. "There are false positives with this drug sometimes. I need to see the report."

Gracie, 14-3-3, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master whose first name is pronounced "Hoyce," helped start the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993 and saw it develop into a lucrative pay-per-view sport.

Earlier it was announced two other fighters on the "Dynamite! USA" card also tested positive for drugs.

Tim Persey tested positive for methamphetamine. He was suspended for six months and fined $1,000 pending appeal, Garcia said.

Results of a test taken before his fight indicated former NFL receiver Johnnie Morton (USC) had a high level of testosterone, indicating he had abused a steroid before the contest, Garcia said.