Barnett has maintained his innocence in stating that he never knowingly took steroids and has vowed to appeal the positive test, but had hopes that the “B” sample would clear him rather than confirm the original result.

Because the positive test occured in the process of approving his license to fight in California, the Calfifornia State Athletic Comission cannot asses him a suspension or fine, though he’ll likely need to clear a future drug screening before being allowed to fight again in the United States.

The former UFC heavyweight champion, who has tested positive for steroids on two previous occasions, must now go through the formal appeals process with the CSAC if he hopes to clear his name.

“Many of you are wondering what’s happening. What I can say is that when applying for my license, the CSAC asked for me to submit a urine sample for testing prior to granting my license as they do with everyone, I believe.

It was not a random test. I had no reason to believe there would be any issues and went in to submit my sample at the earliest possible opportunity on June 25. I never once thought there would be a problem.

My representatives and I are working to gather as much info as possible and handle this situation as best we can. I am embarrassed and want for nothing more than to resolve this issue and receive a license from the State of California as I have done many times already and for other states as well.

I am very thankful for all the great family, friends and fans that still support me.”

A replacement has still not been named to replace Barnett and fight Fedor in the August 1 main event.

Barnett’s June 25 drug test came back positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid. CSAC learned of the results July 21 and immediately denied a license for Barnett. CSAC also informed the promoter of Barnett’s August 1 bout against Fedor Emelianenko that the bout would not be approved.

“The license of Josh Barnett was denied pursuant to rule 303 of Title IV of the California Code of Regulations,” said CSAC Interim Executive Officer Dave Thornton. “That rule prohibits the use of certain substances, including anabolic agents, by any boxer or MMA fighter.”

Barnett’s test was observed in the presence of a CSAC representative and the sample was sent to the World Anti-doping Agency test facility at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on June 25 for processing. CSAC was notified of the results yesterday.

Barnett has the right to appeal the denial of his license.

“Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters,” said Thornton. “Anabolic agents and other banned substances put the users of those agents at risk, as well as their opponents. The commission simply will not tolerate their use.”

CSAC has among the toughest drug testing standards of any Athletic Commission in the country. It is the only commission that requires drug tests to be observed and in the presence of a commission representative prior to a bout.

On the call, Affliction’s Tom Atencio said the promotion was in talks with 3 fighters (reported to be Brett Rogers, Vitor Belfort, and Ricardo Arona) to replace Barnett and square off with Fedor, but said nothing was official and that talks were ongoing. He dismissed reports that a contract was in place with Belfort, saying nothing’s official until he announces the matchup.

Asked what substance Barnett tested positive for, Atencio, who called the news a “complete surprise” and a “disappointment”, directed questions to the California State Athletic Commission, saying he only learned of the positive test yesterday and was not told of the specific drug, other than it’s a banned substance.

Atencio said that a “B sample” from Barnett, taken at the same time as the first test, was being tested to confirm the positive result, but that the promotion is proceeding as though it will be upheld. Barnett is expected to appeal the failed drug test if it is upheld.

Since news of Barnett’s withdrawal from the card broke this morning, some questioned whether Fedor and his management, who have the ability to approve and decline any new opponent, would turn down some of the possible opponents who were under consideration to replace Barnett. Atencio says that Fedor is open to fighting anyone and wouldn’t back down from a fight, clearing the way for Affliction to announce a matchup as soon as a contract is reached.

Atencio made it clear that Affliction is looking to put on the best fight possible, and is negotiating with multiple fighters in hopes of putting on a fight that fans want to watch.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest Affliction news and Affliction rumors.

[Pictured: Tom Atencio]

According to Fox Fight Game, Barnett tested positive for steroids in the first out-of-competition drug test administered by the California State Athletic Commission and will likely be issued a one year suspension.

Affliction’s Tom Atencio confirmed earlier Wednesday that Barnett had tested positive for a banned substance, without disclosing additional details.

If confirmed, the positive test would be Barnett’s second, having previously tested positive for steroids after defeating Randy Couture for the  UFC heavyweight title in 2002.

The CSAC is expected to issue an official statement on Barnett sometime today.

“He tested positive for a banned substance,” said Atencio. “The athletic commission will not reinstate his license.”

Atencio declined to reveal what substance Barnett tested positive for and went on to say that, although the main event is no longer intact, “at this point” the event is still expected to take place.

The pay-per-view and HDNet-televised card takes place next Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and also features Gegard Mousasi vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Vitor Belfort vs. Jorge Santiago, and Paul Buentello vs. Gilbert Yvel.

Atencio declined to comment on rumored replacements for Barnett, saying “Just look for updates. I’m working on getting the best replacement possible.”

Vitor Belfort, Bobby Lashley, Brett Rogers, and Ricardo Arona are the four opponents being considered by Affliciton as opponents for Fedor, according to Fanhouse.

[Pictured: Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko]

Sherdog was first to report the news early-Wednesday citing multiple sources, with Affliction not responding to requests for comment and the CSAC expected to issue a statement later today.

Barnett told Sherdog that he hadn’t yet heard anything about being ineligible for the fight.

According to the report, middleweight Vitor Belfort, who is scheduled to fight Jorge Santiago on the pay-per-view card, has agreed in principle to fight Fedor in place of Barnett. Belfort, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and heavyweight tournament winner, has won four-straight fights overall, including back-to-back middleweight wins over Terry Martin and Matt Lindland.

Heavyweight prospect Bobby Lashley is also under consideration as a replacement, but Lashley told Sherdog he didn’t know if he would accept the fight with Fedor on such short notice.

[Pictured: Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett]

Trilogy is headlined by a heavyweight matchup between top-ranked Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett.

Also confirmed for the pay-per-view main card are Gegard Mousasi vs. Renato Sobral, Vitor Belfort vs. Jorge Santiago, and Paul Daley vs. Jay Hieron, as well as Paul Buentello, who is expected to take on the winner of a June 27 bout between Pedro Rizzo and Gilbert Yvel.

The fight card for Trilogy currently features:

PAY-PER-VIEW CARD

• Fedor Emelianenko (c) vs. Josh Barnett
  WAMMA Heavyweight Championship
• Gegard Mousasi vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral
• Vitor Belfort vs. Jorge Santiago
• Paul Buentello vs. Gilbert Yvel-Pedro Rizzo winner*
• Paul Daley vs. Jay Hieron

HDNET CARD

• Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
• Ben Rothwell vs. Chase Gormley
• Deividas Taurosevicius vs. TBA
• Brett Cooper vs. Akbarh Arreola*
• Mark Hominick vs. TBA*

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Lucio Linhares vs. Mikhail Zayats
• Rob Broughton vs. Jessie Gibbs

* Not officially announced

• Joining Kimbo Slice and the previously rumored fighters on The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights, according to a rumored list of cast members that has circulated in recent days, will be Jim York, Justin Wren, Mike Wessel, Scott Junk, Zak Jensen, Darrill Schoonover, Jon Madsen, Tom Blackledge, and Abe Wagner.
• Andrei Arlovski has received a 60-day medical suspension following his first-round knockout loss to Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields on June 6, which has forced his boxing debut, which was to take place on June 27, to be postponed. Rafael Calvacante, who suffered a second-round TKO loss to Mike Kyle on the event’s preliminary card, was also suspended for 60 days.
• The first UFC Gym, whose features will include an “Arm Bar” with snacks and drinks, is set to open in Concord, California.
• After making critical remarks about Miletich Fighting Systems following his UFC 98 wins, Drew McFedries has been kicked out of the gym.
• Urijah Faber has been medically suspended until December 4th after suffering a broken right hand in his WEC 41 loss to Mike Brown on June 7.
• Lightweight contenders Ricardo Lamas and Danny Castillo will meet at WEC 42 in August.
• Randy Couture will train and corner Gina Carano for her Strikeforce 145-pound title bout against Cris Cyborg on August 15 in San Jose. Tickets for the event went on sale today and start at just $30.
• During a Q&A session before the UFC 99 weigh-ins, UFC President Dana White said he’s interested in signing Josh Barnett if he beats Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Trilogy in August.
• At the post-UFC 99 press conference on Saturday, Wanderlei Silva called for a rematch with Rich Franklin after suffering a close unanimous decision loss in the UFC 99 headliner. Dana White, meanwhile, wants Franklin to move back up to light heavyweight for a run at the 205-pound title.
• The UFC will host an event in the UK in October and the promotion is planning to hold 2 events in Canada in 2010, Dana White announced during the UFC 99 Q&A.
• At the post-UFC 99 press conference, welterweight contender Mike Swick said he’d “love to fight Matt Hughes”.
• A UFC 100 viewing party will be held at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on July 11 with Frankie Edgar and Matt Hamill scheduled as special guests.
• Weigh-ins for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale will take place this Friday at 4pm PT (7pm ET) at the Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.
• Heavyweights Todd Duffee and Mike Russow are likely to fight at UFC 102 on August 29 in Portland, Oregon.
• Despite a planned appeal from Mostapha Al-Turk over his TKO loss to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 99 on Saturday that was setup by an accidental eye poke, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner announced on Monday that an appeal was not possible as it was a judgment call made by referee Dan Mirgliotta.
• Weigh-ins for Friday’s Showtime-televised Strikeforce Challengers event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington will take place on Thursday at the venue’s Club Lounge and are free and open to the public.

[Pictured: Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko]

Though no other matchups were confirmed, Gegard Mousasi, Ben Rothwell, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Tim Sylvia, Mark Hominick, Dan Lauzon, Chris Horodecki, and Paul Buentello will all be in action at the event, according to the card’s official poster (pictured at right).

Contrary to previous speculation, “Trilogy” won’t be Affliction’s last event, according to Affliction COO Michael D. Cohen, who revealed to MMA Fanhouse that a fourth event is being planned for late-2009 on the east coast.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest Affliction news and Affliction rumors.