Alesha Zappitella disqualified, two others suspended following failed drug tests at Combate 13

Pascua Yaqui Athletic Commission just dropped the hammer on a trio of fighters who competed at the Combate 13 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which took place at Casino del Sol last week (Thurs., April 20, 2017) in Tucson, Arizona.

Chief among them was rising atomweight prospect Alesha Zappitella, who popped for marijuana following her 105-pound showdown opposite Stephanie Alba. “Half Pint” drew a 60-day suspension for the infraction and saw her unanimous-decision win changed to a disqualification loss.

Ouch.

“We are professionals and you sign a contract to not just make weight, but also to not take certain banned substances for competition,” Alba told MMAmania.com. “When you do that, you are not holding up your end of the contract. It is very unprofessional. Not sure if that affected her decision to hug me instead of fight me, but it’s still messed up and makes her and her camp look bad.”

Alba will have her defeat overturned to a no decision.

Elsewhere on the card, Randy Steinke and Chad Dietmeyer were also benched for positive drug tests — confirmed with “B” samples nearly a week later — with the former taking two months off and the latter being sat indefinitely.

Not for the weed, but rather for the meltdown after his first-round submission loss to Benny Madrid, which drew penalties for both unsportsmanlike conduct and threatening commission personnel.

Yikes.

It should be noted that Snoop Dogg held a rap concert in the same venue the night before, so no telling how much second-hand smoke permeated the premises (that’s why I always stick to the gin and juice).

For more Combate Americas news and notes click here.