Recently crowned URCC featherweight champion Mark Striegl won’t be defending his belt any time soon. He has been suspended for six months by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) after missing a mandatory drug test.
The circumstances behind the missed drug test were set out in a story published by Real Fight yesterday. Having submitted Do Gyeom Lee on September 29that URCC Colossal he left the Araneta Coliseum in a hurry, with Striegl explaining that this was due to the animosity between the two camps.
“I missed the post-fight drug test because we were escorted out by security as there was a threat of a fight in the cage between our two camps. This is my fault and I accept my suspension. I was notified by GAB on Monday and I immediately went in, took the test, and passed it,” he told Real Fight.
Striegl remains the URCC featherweight champion. It is the first title of the 30 year old’s career; he also challenged for the PXC 145lbs belt in 2013 but was submitted in the third round by Korean Top Team’s Jang Yong Kim.
The rivalry between the two camps in the build up to this title fight was well publicized. Gyeom Lee subsequently issued a formal complaint, alleging that his opponent had deliberately evaded the drug test but it appears that the GAB accepted the Fil-Am featherweight’s version of events.
Striegl also had a stint with ONE Championship, winning two fights out of three for Asia’s biggest MMA promotion. He currently holds an 18-2 record and could be eligible to fight again as soon March, assuming the ban is backdated to September 29th.
