Melvin Guillard handed eight month suspension by NSAC

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by MMAWeekly

Breaking News: Lightweight UFC fighter and former Ultimate Fighter contestant Melvin Guillard was suspended for eight months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at a disciplinary hearing today in Las Vegas. He was also fined $2,100 out of his $7,000 purse for the fight.

Guillard tested positive for Benzoylegonine, a major metabolite of cocaine, following his loss to Joe Stevenson at UFC Fight Night 9 on April 5th. Guillard's fight against Stevenson was the card's main event, and it aired live on Spike TV.

Guillard was the first MMA fighter to test positive for cocaine in the state of Nevada. In neighboring California, only one MMA fighter, Ricco Rodriguez, has tested positive for cocaine.

At his disciplinary hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Guillard admitted that he used cocaine. Guillard said that on Friday, March 30th, he was hanging out with some friends and not intending to use any drugs, but "one thing led to another" and he ended up trying cocaine. Guillard said that he thought the drug would be out of his system within 72 hours and that he absolutely did not expect to test positive when he fought six days later.

Guillard said, "I've only been introduced to drugs in the past year or so." He added that he has only used drugs for recreational purposes, and that he does not have an addiction. Guillard did not specify which other drugs he has used, but he did state that he has never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Guillard said to the commissioners, "I made an honest mistake. I embarrassed myself, and I embarrassed my family." Guillard said that the hardest part of the whole process was explaining to his mother what he had done. Guillard added that he has subsequently tried to put himself in a new environment with different people surrounding him and that he does not intend to use drugs in the future.

The commissioners said that there is precedent on the sentencing of fighters who test positive for certain drugs, but that they also have some leeway to give suspensions on the low end of the spectrum or the high end of the spectrum. The commissioners did appreciate Guillard's honesty and the fact that he appeared to be remorseful for his actions. At that point, a motion was introduced to suspend Guillard for eight months from the date of the fight and to fine him 30 percent of his purse for the fight (or $2,100 out of his $7,000 purse). The motion passed unanimously.

There has never been a positive cocaine test for a fighter in the state of Nevada. Professional boxer Omar Nino tested positive for methamphetamine in March 2006 and was given a suspension of nine months, one month longer than Guillard's suspension.

Although Guillard was the only fighter on the UFC Fight Night 9 card to have failed his drug test, only six of the card's eighteen fighters were drug-tested. The NSAC spent a total of $1,670 on drug testing for UFC Fight Night 9, while the total cost of drug testing every single fighter on the card would have been $5,011. No fighters at all were drug-tested at UFC 69, which took place in Houston, Texas; or at UFC 70, which took place in Manchester, England.

The issue of drug-testing in MMA has become increasingly prevalent as more and more fighters have failed drug tests. At a teleconference prior to UFC 70, when a reporter raised the issue with UFC president Dana White and specifically mentioned Diego Sanchez' positive test for marijuana and Melvin Guillard's positive test for cocaine, White said that it always sucks whenever any UFC fighter tests positive for anything. When the reporter asked if the UFC would consider instituting random drug testing of its own, in addition to the athletic commission drug testing that always takes place on the day of the events, White did not directly address the question. Instead, he said that all of the fighters on The Ultimate Fighter reality show have to pass a drug test before they can be on the show, and some of the other fighters are drug-tested by the athletic commissions, but he concluded, "I don't know what else I can do."

Guillard will have to provide a negative drug test to the NSAC before he will be allowed to fight again in the state of Nevada.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...=3919&zoneid=2

[Ramma]

lol.. I think Dana knows exactly what he can do...

and I think it is a pretty fair sentence. Surprised no legal action is being taken against him being that it isn't weed, but a more serious drug

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by Ramma

lol.. I think Dana knows exactly what he can do...

and I think it is a pretty fair sentence. Surprised no legal action is being taken against him being that it isn't weed, but a more serious drug

What kind of legal action? Testing positive for cocaine isn't illegal, possessing it is.

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by smoogy

What kind of legal action? Testing positive for cocaine isn't illegal, possessing it is.

Ahh, true.. silly me....



P.S.


Sorry, I have too much funny with smiliey faces

[thumper]

It's a shame that this shit happens.

The problem for me is, I don't give a shit if someone smokes up, snorts a little, or whatever. That's their business. So it's not a legality issue with me.

The problem here is that he was well aware that it was against the rules, and he still did it. I think he got off light.

I guess it just surprises me that the fighters already know they're not really getting paid what they deserve. But to take a step back and be stupid enough to do it just amazes me.

It's also pretty clear that he was likely told that cocaine would be out of his system way before they tested. I mean he even said it!!

Hopefully he learned two lessons.

1. don't be stupid and risk your self like that
2. don't listen to arm chair doctors (aka friends) who think they know all the answers.

[Zenshotokai]

[quote=thumper]It's a shame that this shit happens.

The problem for me is, I don't give a shit if someone smokes up, snorts a little, or whatever. That's their business. So it's not a legality issue with me.

I see it differently. I know people who are hooked in the drug world and it has destroyed their lives. It is not just the person...if affects lots of other people around them too.

Why is it that they always say...I tried it for the first time...bull crap. I know addicts that say the same thing when they are arrested. Like you said, he knows the rules and disrespected the sport that was embracing him.

[DonFrye]

I see it a little differently: Fuck him. If he wants to break the law or even the rules of the NSAC, which he is clearly briefed on prior to the fight, then he deserves whatever he gets. Same for Diaz, Bonnar, Sylvia, and anyone else, no matter what the drug is. PERFORMANCE ENHANCING OR NOT. You can't really feel sorry for a guy who pisses on an electric fence, knowing it's gonna shock the hell out of his dick, can you???

[Mirko45]

Originally Posted by DonFrye

I see it a little differently: Fuck him. If he wants to break the law or even the rules of the NSAC, which he is clearly briefed on prior to the fight, then he deserves whatever he gets. Same for Diaz, Bonnar, Sylvia, and anyone else, no matter what the drug is. PERFORMANCE ENHANCING OR NOT. You can't really feel sorry for a guy who pisses on an electric fence, knowing it's gonna shock the hell out of his dick, can you???

That's exactly how I feel and the reason why I still don't feel bad for Nick Diaz

[Dan0]

Originally Posted by DonFrye

.......You can't really feel sorry for a guy who pisses on an electric fence, knowing it's gonna shock the hell out of his dick, can you???

It didn't shock my dick, but it sure melted my balls.

[DonFrye]

Ouch.......that would suck.