Veteran heavyweight James Thompson tested positive for the steroid drostanolone following his first round submission loss to Philip De Fries at Bellator 191.

As a result, Thompson (20-17 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) is suspended for one year – retroactive to the Dec. 15 event – and fined $2,000. He must also submit a clean drug test to be relicensed to fight, Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations Executive Director Mike Mazzulli told MMAjunkie. themmareport.com first reported the failed test.

Bellator 191 took place at Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England, and aired via delay on Spike.

Drostanolone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid that’s banned year-round by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Several MMA fighters have tested positive for the drug over the past decade.

Mazzulli said he informed Thompson, 39, of the positive drug test and his right to appeal the result in a hearing. Thompson must signal his desire to do so within 24 hours.

The drug failure stemmed from an in-competition test conducted by Mazzulli, who serves in a regulatory capacity when the Viacom-owned promotion conducts overseas events. Mazzulli also serves as the president of the Association of Boxing Commissions, which maintains an database of medical and suspension information.

Mazzulli also said tests of Carlos Miranda, Alessio Sakara and Bellator middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho came back negative at Bellator 190, which took place Dec. 9 in Florence, Italy.

Thompson’s loss to De Fries (14-6 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) marked his third consecutive defeat via stoppage over a two-year period. The PRIDE, EliteXC and Bellator veteran is best known for his brawl with Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson under the now-defunct EliteXC banner in 2008.

For more on Bellator 191, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

Filed under: Bellator, News