MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

Melvin Guillard was suspended for eight months and fined $2,100 (30% of his $7,000 fight purse) for testing positive for Benzoylegonine, a metabolite of cocaine, after his loss to Joe Stevenson at Ultimate Fight Night 9 on April 5th. MMA HQ first reported the positive drug test back on April 13.

According to Ivan Trembow at MMAWeekly.com, Guillard admitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission that he did use cocaine only six days before his fight with Stevenson.

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.