Ken Shamrock claims positive test caused by pituitary medication, asks for more time

UFC Hall of Famer and Bellator fighter Ken Shamrock told an investigator for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation his positive Bellator 149 drug test was caused by medications taken for a pituitary condition, according to documents obtained today by MMAjunkie.

The TDLR found Shamrock (28-17-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) tested positive for two banned substances – the steroid nandrolone and opioid methadone – and came back with an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio following a contested first-round TKO loss to Royce Gracie (15-2-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a trilogy fight at the Spike-televised event on Feb. 19 at Houston’s Toyota Center.

The UFC Hall of Famer apparently was caught off guard, however, by his positive drug test. When contacted by an investigator for the TDLR, he admitted to taking several unspecified medications, but indicated they were to treat a legitimate condition.

“Respondent stated he is certain the results are not from an illegal substance and believes the results stem from medications prescribed to him from his doctor to control swollen pituitary glands in his brain,” the TDLR’s Jason DeBord wrote in a report submitted as part of an investigation into Shamrock’s positive test.

Shamrock claimed he had been evaluated by doctors in two different states “due to high testosterone readings that concerned him to thinking it was cancer,” according to Deport’s report. After evaluations ruled out the disease, Shamrock said he was prescribed medications “to control the swollen pituitary glands that did, in fact, have a positive effect.”

Shamrock said he and his medical team would respond to the positive drug tests, the report states.

The 52-year-old fighter, who came out of retirement this past year to sign with Bellator, faces up to a one-year suspension and up to a $5,000 fine. On March 11, the TDLR offered the fighter a settlement if he admitted the allegations, proposing a license revocation and a reduced fine of $3,000. The deal was valid for 20 days.

Shamrock’s attorney is asking the commission for more time before a hearing into the matter. On March 30, Rodney L. Donohoo turned down the offer and asked for 30 more days to assemble the fighter’s medical documents and reach a settlement.

“If you are unable to accommodate this request, Mr. Shamrock alternatively requests a hearing,” wrote Donohoo.

In response, the TDLR has given the Shamrock camp until April 29 to make a final decision on the settlement. In the event Shamrock doesn’t respond, the matter will go before Texas’ Office of Administrative Hearings.

That would put two hearings on Shamrock’s calendar because he is already appealing his loss to Gracie, claiming the referee missed an illegal groin shot and asking his loss to be overturned.

On Twitter, Shamrock expressed confidence the matter would be resolved when the facts of his case came to light.

“This is what I want my fans to do stop looking at the purple elephant in the room what’s important is getting this fight overturned? ?????” he wrote. “This is a good one the amount of steroids I was supposedly have had taken I still lost weight yep that’s right lost 10 pounds.”

Shamrock in 2009 tested positive for a trio of steroids following a regional event. In a past interview, he has admitted to previous use of steroids but said he now wants to clean up the sport of MMA.

Repeated attempts to reach Shamrock directly and via his reps have been unsuccessful. Bellator officials have declined comment on the drug test failures.

For more on Bellator 149, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.