After a somewhat contentious meeting with the Nevada State Athletic Commission Alistair Overeem has been granted a conditional license to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on December 30.
The hearing started with the commission detailing the timeline of the out of competition drug test that both Overeem and Lesnar were contacted to take on November 17.
NSAC executive Keith Kizer said that he did not hear from Overeem’s camp until November 21, four days after Overeem returned to Holland, to care for his ill mother while still training for the upcoming bout with Lesnar. Overeem then went to get the sample taken, on November 23, however the incorrect sample was taken. Instead of a urine test, a blood test was taken. While the NSAC did state that all the levels in the blood test came back within the appropriate ranges, it was not the proper steroid test that they were looking for.
Overeem, after submitting the blood test results was told that he needed to retest, with the proper urine test, something he did on December 7. The results of that test, have not come back, but there was some concern over that test, as it was taken by Overeem’s doctor and not at a testing facility.
The NSAC was at an impasse due to the fact that they had not received the results of Overeem’s test. The commission had several options open to them ranging from full approval of a license to full denial.
In the end, after hearing Overeem’s explanation, which was delivered under oath, the NSAC came to the conclusion that Overeem was not attempting to avoid the test. The feeling was, at worst, Overeem and his assistant displayed a lack of urgency in completing the November 17 test request. With that in mind the commission decided to offer Overeem a conditional license for UFC 141.
The conditions set upon Overeem are as follows; Overeem will submit to an observed urine test within 72 hours, he will then submit to another test when he returns to the United States. Additionally, Overeem will need to submit to two random drug tests within six months of the completion of the December 30 bout to keep his license.
With this behind him, Overeem can continue his training for his bout with Lesnar.
The meeting also saw the NSAC assign Mario Yamasaki to referee Lesnar vs. Overeem at UFC 141.
