[UFC] If Found Guilty, Sean Sherk Will Be Stripped of Title

[Rappy Veteran]

If Sean Sherk?s appeal of a failed UFC 73 drug test is denied by the California State Athletic Commission, UFC President Dana White says he will strip the UFC lightweight champion of his belt.

White made the comments during a UFC 74 press conference in Las Vegas yesterday afternoon.

Sherk defeated Hermes Franca via unanimous decision at UFC 73, which took place July 7 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. However, after the championship bout, both fighters tested positive for anabolic steroids and were promptly fined $2,500 and suspended one year by the CSAC.

Sherk tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

Sherk maintains his innocence, and in a statement he released after the failed test, said he was investigating possible causes of the failed test with his attorney.

A source close to Sherk recently told UFCjunkie.com (www.ufcjunkie.com) that the fighter?s legal team is testing a variety of supplements the fighter consumed during his training for UFC 73. According to the source, Sherk?s team hopes it can point to one of the over-the-counter supplements as the reason he unknowingly ingested a banned substance.

Sherk has retained Los Angeles attorney Howard Jacobs, who?s represented some of the sporting world?s biggest names in doping cases.

His appeal will be held in October.

Sherk (32-2-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) won the vacant lightweight title by defeating Kenny Florian at UFC 64 in October 2006. His fight with Franca was his first title defense.

I didn't realise he has been done for Drugs in that case then he should be stripped only if the supplements were illegal.

[Zoom7000]

Sherk tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

Well, if that's the case then I'm sure the CSAC will call for him to be stripped too as it probably gave him an unfair advantage, I'm surprised the ban was only 1 year too. I thought it was lifetime bans for performance enhancing drugs, and 2 years for recreational drugs?

Either way, in regards to the UFC, that leaves the lightweight division in quite a predicament. Sherk and Franca were 2 of the biggest performers in the weight class. I think they'll be giving Florian the next title fight, however, I suppose they'll pull someone in from PRIDE.