Former K-1 heavyweight world champion and one of the most notable kickboxers of our generation – Badr Hari has been issued a 19-month suspension due to a failed drug test.
The news was broken by Doping Autoriteit Netherlands (DAN) but the substance was not named. Hari’s suspension has a commencement date of May 7, 2018, which means “The Golden Boy” would be eligible for return on December 7, 2019. The 34-year-old Moroccan-Dutch heavyweight’s last fight was at “GLORY 51” on March 3, 2018, when he defeated Hesdy Gerges via UD, but now the outcome of the fight was overturned to “No Contest”.
Gran noche de combates en Rotterdam, cuando @GLORY_WS presentó #GLORY51. Una noche espectacular. Badr Hari se vio las caras en contra de @Hesdy_Gerges en los pesos pesados. Esto es "Resumen y Resultados" – Click 👉https://t.co/Vuf7XkLf2C pic.twitter.com/BZ81jpdjIX
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORYenEspanol) March 5, 2018
Therewithal Hari, three more kickboxers were caught using PEDs.
Hesdy Gerges, who fought Hari at “GLORY 51”, also failed at the drug test after the bout was issued with an official reprimand by DAN but has denied any violation and has publicly indicated that he is contesting the proposed reprimand.
Volgens Nieuwsuur zijn Badr Hari en Hesdy Gerges betrapt op het gebruik van doping https://t.co/hlhSZ9a7C4 pic.twitter.com/skpTXVnghH
— AD.nl/sportwereld (@ADSportwereld) January 28, 2019
Brazilian light-heavyweight Ariel Machado has been suspended for 20 months following a positive test for banned substances at “GLORY 47”, where he challenged reigning champion Artem Vakhitov. His suspension has a commencement date of December 21, 2017.
I want to fight! Who's ready to be my new challenge? pic.twitter.com/TZFDJeFaBj
— Ariel Machado (@ArielMachadoKB) April 28, 2017
Croatian heavyweight Mladen Brestovac has been issued with an official reprimand based on samples taken at his “GLORY 54” title challenge against heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven.
It's official, Rico Verhoeven and Mladen Brestovac all weighed-in for #GLORY54 Birmingham. Rico promises @GrishamMMA 'another KO' on Saturday at @GentingArena. pic.twitter.com/pGg0NCjUP2
— Andreas M. Georgiou (@andremgeorgiou) June 1, 2018