Postive drug tests continue to sweep over the MMA landscape much like the AIDS crisis is currently ravaging the content of Africa.
Today, the California State Athletic Commission reveals that UFC Lightweight champion Sean Sherk has tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite, a banned substance.
Sean Sherk, the reigning UFC World Lightweight Champion, who last competed on July 7, 2007 in Sacramento, has tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite. He has been fined $2,500. His suspension period runs from the conclusion of his bout on July 7, 2007 through the remainder of his licensing year which is June 26, 2008. Furthermore, he has been assessed an additional 10 days in order to fulfill the terms of his suspension (365 total days). The additional days will be added at the beginning of his next licensing year when he reapplies.
Normal levels of Nandrolone range from 2 ng/mL (average person) to 6 ng/mL (athlete engaged in rigorous activity). Mr. Sherk’s reported level certified by the Director of Science and Technology from the laboratory that conducted the tests was 12 ng/mL. Both the “A” sample and “B” sample were tested and confirmed as positive.
[Source: MMAWeekly.com]
Not only did Sean Sherk test positive, but his opponent at UFC 73 Hermes Franca tested positive for Drostanolone and was fined $2,500 and suspended for a year as well. When is the last time both fighters in a matchup tested positive for banned substances?
This is getting WAY out of hand and something needs to change abruptly or the sport of MMA will die before it even gets out of the gate. Damon Martin at MMAWeekly.com wrote a very good article on the growing drug problem in Mixed Martial Arts and I encourage you all to check it out.
Zach Arnold at FightOpinion.com also notes the figures recently released by the CSAC which noted 20 failed drug tests by MMA athletes over the past 3 months.
The California State Athletic Commission released the latest drug test-related suspension figures from the time period of 3/31/2007 to 7/6/2007. Within that three month time-span, there were 28 failed drug tests - 20 of them in MMA plus Johnnie Morton refusing to take a test (MMA testing over a period of 17 events), 5 in boxing (over a period of 28 events), and 2 in kickboxing.
Do the math - that means 5 out of every 7 drug test failures in California were related to MMA, or a little over 70%. If you count Morton’s refusal to take a drug test as a testing failure (which naturally you should), then the ratio would hit 3 out of every 4 (21/28) drug test failures (75%).
[Source: FightOpinion.com]
What happens now? We can’t turn a blind eye to this problem and continue to not treat it as a serious problem. What will the UFC do with Sherk being the lightweight title holder? Do they strip him of the title like they did to Tim Syliva when he tested positive while heavyweight champion. If they don’t, in my mind it will be an absolute travesty and the UFC should be ashamed of themselves to no end. This is the UFC’s chance, on a grand scale, to publically step forward and state their position on the issue of banned substances.
Discuss this post in the forum (0)
Tags: UFC, MMA, UFC 73, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca
