Sean Sherk was finally given a response by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last Tuesday after waiting 5 months for a response. The outcome of the hearing came out to be 6 months away from the octagon and a $2500 USD fine for having excess amounts of Nandrolone in his system during his fight against Hermes Franca (July 2007). Due to his long wait for a CSAC decision, he will be set and ready to fight by January of 2008.
So what’s the bad news you may ask and why?
Although his suspension time was cut in half, his positive test results for steroids were not overturned. Therefore, Dana White strongly felt that a fighter who used steroids for a bout doesn’t deserve to possess a UFC belt. Now, Sherk will have to start from scratch and work his way up to the top once again.
The lightweight title has been left vacant and BJ Penn will battle it out with Joe Stevenson for that lightweight belt in January at UFC 80-Rapid Fire.
