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Bellator's 'Kimbo Slice' settles with Texas commission following failed steroid test

Two months in advance of his Bellator 158 rematch with James Thompson, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson has settled with Texas’ athletic commission following a failed steroid test.

Slice agreed to a $2,500 fine and the revocation of his Texas fight license, which originally was slated to expire on March 4, 2017. He also agreed to waive his right to a hearing and is expected to remain in compliance with “all laws and rules” of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees the Texas Combative Sports Program.

Meanwhile, the third-round TKO Slice (6-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) earned against Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris (2-1 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) at Bellator 149 has been overturned to a no-decision, Texas combative sports director Greg Alvarez today told MMAjunkie.

A post-fight drug test revealed the presence of nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, and an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio in Slice’s urine after his win on the Spike-televised event, which took place Feb. 19 at Houston’s Toyota Center. Harris was rushed to the hospital and suffered renal failure after the fight.

The TDLR initially placed Slice on administrative suspension for 90 days and offered him a settlement of a $4,000 fine in addition to a license revocation. But the office didn’t hear back from the fighter, prompting the TDLR’s enforcement office to ready a notice of default against the 42-year-old former UFC fighter and Internet brawler.

Settlement talks began after Bellator booked Slice opposite Thompson (20-16 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) at Bellator 158, which takes place July 16 at The O2 in London and airs live on Spike. Because the event takes place overseas, it will not be overseen by an athletic commission from the Association of Boxing Commissions. Instead, Bellator President Scott Coker said the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) will serve as the regulator.

The bout could still complicate matters for Slice if he wishes to return stateside to fight. Alvarez told MMAjunkie that Slice’s revocation will be noted on an official administrative database monitored by the ABC, which means the fighter could face additional hurdles to be licensed by member commissions.

California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster told MMAjunkie he would not administratively approve Slice for a license, instead sending the matter for a hearing before the full commission if the fighter sought to compete before the end of his license-revocation period.

Slice and Thompson generated record-breaking numbers when they first fought eight years ago under the now-defunct EliteXC banner, drawing a peak rating of 6.51 million viewers.

Slice came out of retirement in 2015 to sign with the Viacom-owned Bellator. He proved he is still a ratings draw, and he brought in 2.3 million viewers for a fight with UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock and then 2.7 million for his fight with Dada 5000.

Thompson, 37, most recently suffered a second-round TKO loss to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka this past December after a first-round TKO defeat to Bobby Lashley one month prior at Bellator 145.

For more on Bellator 149, check out the MMA Events section of the site. And for more on Bellator 158, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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Story updated at 3:36 p.m. E.T. to reflect the official change to Slice vs. 5000 at Bellator 149.

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