Gygax

This is courtesy of Sherdog's Josh Gross...
I'm sure this will leave no one happy. Sherk will be upset that he will be viewed as a cheater, and the anti-Sherk crowd will wonder why he gets his reduced while Hermes Franca's was kept at the full year suspension even though he fully admitted doing steroids.

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bayoubro

So would the suspension begin as of his failed test? Last fight? Ruling?

mxfuel

It says that he will return in January. So the suspension must have been considered active a while ago.

P-Unit

I wonder if he's going to be stripped of the title. Dana couldn't seem to make up his mind about that one. And also, does this mean the fight between Penn and Stevenson is for the real Lightweight title, or is it still the interim title?

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Gygax

The answers to many of the questions will likely have to wait until Zuffa/Dana White comment on the decision. That may not be until later this week when they have to do pressers for the TUF 6 Finale card. But they may surprise us and comment by the end of tonight.

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Gygax

Highlights from an interview with Sean Sherk on the Steohen Quadros Radio Show today, courtesy of 5 Oz of Pain...

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RockemSockem

The situation unfortunately is very complicated and has been from the get-go. Honestly, i haven't been sure what to think the entire time. I get upset when someone feels they have it all figured out one way or the other. Imo the only facts of the matter are how unprofessionally the entire matter has been handled and that drug testing needs to be re-examined and reformed. I don't know whether Sherk is innocent or guilty, but i know that no innocent person should be put through what he's been.

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mxfuel

If he does wait to fight the winner of the BJ/Joe fight he might be out for a long time.

Jras0001

Im sorry but that decision is total BS. If they, the CSAC, feel that Sherk did use banned substances, then they should have left the suspention as it was. If there was enough evidence to justify that the suspention be reduced, then it should have been completely overturned all together. Either there was or there wasnt evidence to show that he used banned substances. There isnt any middle of the road...either he did it or he didnt. This reduction in suspension crap just seems like a ploy of the CSAC to try to appease all parties concerned and keep the scrutiny off of them for not being prepared to hear the case on its scheduled date as well as other noted difficulties theyve had dealing with this entire issue.

I just think this is an easy cop out and its totally blows.

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CounterPuncher

I agree with this 100%.

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HaVoK

It would be great if somehow they worked out Penn vs. Sherk for the PPV, and Stevenson against maybe Kenny Florian for the next title shot.

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GeorgeXVX

I wonder if BJ Penn will fight him now?

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DoQ1

Agree 100% hopefully he will stop cheating now. Then we can see some great fights in that stacked division.

Saskabush

Strange stuff for sure. It seems that by reducing his sentence they are admitting that they have flaws in their testing system. Like Jras said, they should have just overturned his conviction because they aren't proving anything here other than they don't know wtf to do. They have to set precedence somewhere here, either uphold the original decision or overturn it completely, all they are doing is further tarnishing their reputation.

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DoQ1

Not really. Haven't you ever heard that "Ignorance is no excuse"??
If you get caught for any crime ignorance does not get you off. Let just say he never knew about the roids, he still had them in his system. The CSAC obviously showing they will work with athletes lessend the punishment for not knowing but can't let guys get away with juicing. It is pretty simple to me. Sean probably did not intentionally roid up, however the synthetic testosteron still was in his body and doing what it does. Helping the body recover and increasing strength and conditioning. He did it unknowingly and they heard his defense and adjusted the punishment accordingly. They don't worry about how it effects the title shot picture they just uphold the rules.

I give them props for being fair when they learned of the circumstances. Sherk will simply have to take more care in what he consumes.

That said I wish he could fight sooner maybe he will get a fight in the mean time who knows.

theEmpiric

Well said, very well said! I concur!

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lwbfl

Steroid testing is not an exact science, especially urine testing. Mouth swab test are the least viable option, followed by urine then blood. Saliva and urine test for signs of steroids, blood test for the steroid itself. Then there are test for elevated testosterone to estrogen levels. The normal range is so varies from person to person, so it is not proof positive either.This is just a generalization of course, as it gets complicated when you factor in all the types of drugs available. They probably reduced the suspension because they know they can't say 100% that he did or did not use steroids. I have no doubt that he did, and had full knowledge what he was doing.

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Jras0001

Im sorry but I disagree. I never said he was ignorant of the fact and I never even posed that as being remotely close to a defense. I simply stated its an "either he did or he didnt" case. Nothing more and nothing less. He did them (knowingly or not) or he didnt take them. There was no reason for the suspention to be lessened or otherwise tampered with unless it was to completely overturn it. I still think they are trying to appease as many people as they can and get this issue off their hands. If there was enough evidence to indicate the suspension deserved to be lessened, then that would suggest there was enough doubt to his guilt and therefore warranted the suspension to be overturned. If there was enough evidence showing his guilt, then the 1 year suspension should have stood intact.

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The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell

Ya it seems they weren't 100% sure he was guilty, so they reduced the sentence, which is BS to me. I still believe Sherk is innocent, and will be ready to kick some ass in his next fight.

Jenkins83

Good to hear that he could be back as early as January. I'm guessing that means he won't have to be stripped of the title afterall. Instead of crowning an interim LW champion, the Penn/Stevenson fight at 79 will now probably be to determine who gets the title shot against Sherk.