STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Josh Barnett's CSAC hearing delayed, will now be heard in February

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Josh Barnett's return to MMA action in the U.S. will have to wait a bit longer, as he was granted a continuance with the California State Athletic Commission during Thursday's meeting and will appear in front of them at the next Commission meeting.

Barnett was not granted a renewal of his license in July of 2009 prior to his scheduled fight with Fedor Emelianenko on the planned third Affliction event. A failed steroid test led to a denial of his license for the fight.

He had been scheduled to appear before the commission to appeal the result on numerous occasions, but varying reasons delayed his appearance until this meeting.

Barnett was expecting to answer questions from the Commission and then request a renewal of his license. However, the CSAC was prepared to present their case against Barnett regarding his failed test, and Barnett had not brought counsel with him. After stating unequivocally that he had not taken anabolic steroids, he was advised that he could be in an adverse position without counsel, and that he could return at a later date. Barnett opted to return later with counsel, but was none too happy on Twitter following the conclusion of his time with them.

"Wow. I show up only to re apply and get ambushed by an assistant AG who has put together a case against me. Sweet," Barnett wrote.

"As if I would show up without my legal representation if I knew that was going to be the case!"

Barnett will now likely be heard in February of 2011 at the Commission's next meeting.

Penick's Analysis: This was another mess from the CSAC. They were disorganized, and didn't seem to know exactly what they were doing with Barnett's case. They clearly hadn't informed Barnett of how the meeting was to be conducted, as they themselves didn't seem to have a clue, but with the issues Barnett had with the previous appeal dates he probably should have had his counsel with him regardless for this hearing. His case being pushed back to February means he will not be a part of Strikeforce's expected January 29 event, and that part of this is not good for the organization that signed him earlier this fall.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Affliction2/article_7706.shtml

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