Former ONE bantamweight champion John Lineker failed a drug test for multiple banned substances in his last bout in March and has parted ways with the promotion, MMA Fighting has confirmed following a report from Bangkok Post.
Lineker tested positive for tamoxifen, an anti-oestrogenic substance, and anabolic androgenic steroid metandienone.
The test took place on March 14, a day after he lost a kickboxing match to Ben Woolliss in Bangkok and the result came back positive on April 10, when he was notified of the one-year suspension.
ONE would follow the suspension until April 9, 2027, but other promotions and commissions around the world are not legally forced to obey. Lineker is currently scheduled to compete in a boxing match on June 6 in Curitiba, Brazil, in a five-round title bout with Rogerio Ferreira at Liga Monstro Combate 1.
Lineker went 6-2 with one no-contest in MMA fights under the ONE banner between 2019 and 2024, winning the bantamweight title with a knockout over long-time champion Bibiano Fernandes. He lost the belt on the scale after missing weight for a title defense against Fabricio Andrade.
“Hands of Stone” hasn’t fought under MMA rules since a last-minute clash with Shinya Aoki in Japan, replacing Sage Northcutt. He went 2-1 in muay Thai and 0-2 in kickboxing matches since.
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