Former Strikeforce champ Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante to appeal suspension

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (12-3 MMA, 4-2 SF) will appeal his one-year license suspension at the California State Athletic Commission's next meeting on Aug. 8.

Cavalcante's manager, Ed Soares, on Friday confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). The meeting takes place in Sacramento, Calif.

Representing Cavalcante at the appeal will be a drug expert who witnessed the testing of the fighter's "B" sample and a lawyer, Soares said.

Cavalcante's camp decided to appeal the suspension after the second test, which was conducted June 26. The CSAC employs the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) test facility at UCLA in Los Angeles for drug testing.

The CSAC suspended Cavalcante in mid-June when a pre-fight drug test revealed the presence of stanozolol, a steroid.

Cavalcante submitted Mike Kyle in the first round of a May 19 fight at "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final," which took place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The commission overturned the win and fined Cavalcante $2,500.

Cavalcante's suspension runs until May 18, 2013, one year from the date he was tested.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said Cavalcante is likely to challenge former champ Gegard Mousasi for the promotion's vacant light heavyweight title when the suspension is up.

Cavalcante lost the title to Dan Henderson in March 2011, but rebounded with a second-round knockout of Yoel Romero Palacio. His overall Strikeforce record now stands at 4-2.

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