Thread: Sherk's Hearing Postponed... AGAIN!

Looks like we won't have any closure on the Sherk situation on Nov. 13th. CSAC postponed his appeal... again. This is unreal. To make matters worse, they've left the scheduled date of the hearing open-ended and up in the air. While initially I disagreed with Dana'a handling of the situation and his criticism of CSAC, he now seems to be right on the money with their disorganization and unprofessionalism.

Here's the article from The Fight Network:

‘Scheduling Conflicts’ Cited for Latest CSAC Delay

By Brian Knapp

The California State Athletic Commission today confirmed the postponement of UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk’s Tuesday, Nov. 13 appeal hearing for a steroids-related suspension. CSAC associate governmental program analyst Bill Douglas cited scheduling conflicts as the reasons behind the delay. The hearing has not yet been rescheduled.

“Eleven different individuals need their schedule coordinated – not an easy task,” Douglas said.

The CSAC made a previous decision to delay a ruling on Sherk on Oct. 31 after commissioner Julio Ramirez expressed concern over a 17-page brief from Howard Jacobs, Sherk’s attorney. The brief, which included 20 exhibits, never reached the seven CSAC members charged with voting. Jacobs was provided with an acknowledgement of receipt by CSAC executive director Armando Garcia, Douglas and Karen Chappelle – the deputy attorney general for the state of California.

Attempts to reach Jacobs regarding the latest postponement were not immediately successful.

Sherk (33-3) tested positive for the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Metabolite (the same banned agent for which MMA legend Royce Gracie was flagged in June) following his unanimous decision victory over Hermes Franca at UFC 73 in July. The CSAC fined the 34-year-old Minnesotan $2,500 and suspended him for one year.

A product of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, Sherk was the third UFC champion to fail a steroids test during a title reign, as he joined former heavyweight champions Josh Barnett and Tim Sylvia. The UFC stripped Barnett of his crown following his positive test; Sylvia surrendered his belt after he was flagged.

UFC president Dana White has already said Sherk would not be stripped of his crown. White called the CSAC’s handling of the Sherk case “a mess.” It was confirmed last week that B.J. Penn would meet Joe Stevenson for the interim UFC lightweight championship at UFC 80 on Saturday, Jan. 19 in Newcastle, England. Sherk would presumably face the winner once his situation with the CSAC is resolved.

Unfortunately for Sherk, even if he proves himself not guilty, he receives the equivalent of an 8-month suspension now that Penn/Stevenson are scheduled to fight in January. For example, lets say Sherk's hearing takes place in December and he's cleared to fight. Penn/Stevenson is still going to happen and the fight between Sherk and the Penn/Stevenson winner would most likely not happen until March at the earliest.

Shouldn't being part of the governing body for professional athletics in a large state be a full time job? Why are these guys not able to schedule a hearing? I'm guessing that the UFC will not schedule another even in Cali for quite some time.

I bet they will. Anaheim's been a very successful town for them, and that's the bottom line.

No sweat, T-Bone.

BTW... just found out today that the new hearing date has been scheduled for December 4th.

I just wish the CSAC operated like traffic court. If you fight a speeding ticket and the officer fails to show up at the hearing, you win. Since most of the members weren't going to be able to attend the Nov. 13th meeting (with more than enough notice, I might add) -- Sherk's case should be excused. I'm joking, of course, but the CSAC is just one giant fustercluck.

Dang they really need to sort this thing out. Its getting dragged out, just make a decision!

Armando Garcia needs a foot up the ass.

Another update today... I didn't want to start a new thread. The geist of it is that Sherk's lawyer filed an official protest and he's one pissed off dude. This is from thefightnetwork.com.

Howard Jacobs, the attorney representing UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk in his appeal of a California State Athletic Commission suspension for suspected steroid use, has formally protested the latest scheduled hearing date of Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Los Angeles. Sherk’s case has already been postponed twice.

Jacobs said all parties involved, including commissioners and the state’s legal counsel – Deputy Attorney General Karen Chappelle – had agreed to reconvene for a Nov. 13 hearing, provided they could secure a room in which to conduct it.

“I seemingly can’t force them to give me an explanation as to why the deputy attorney general suddenly became unavailable [for Nov. 13] when she said she was available,” Jacobs said. “I can’t get them to explain to me why there’s no one in the entire State Attorney General’s office who can handle the case or why – if there was another matter that came up for Karen Chappelle – she can’t postpone that matter, because she already agreed to this one. I’ve asked for answers to all those questions, and I haven’t been told anything.”