CSAC won’t take action against Alexander Shlemenko for fighting in Russia

The California State Athletic Commission won’t be taking action against former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko for fighting in Russia while serving a suspension.

Despite currently serving a three-year suspension for a failed drug test, Alexander Shlemenko is booked to face Vyacheslav Vasilevsky at M-1 Challenge 64 in February — and the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), which issued the suspension, won’t be taking action against him.

“We don’t have jurisdiction over there, and I don’t plan to take any action on someone who’s fighting beyond on our jurisdiction,” CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster told MMAjunkie.com.

Shlemenko, who signed with M-1 Global earlier this month, was suspended by the CSAC last June following a knockout win over Melvin Manhoef in the Bellator 133 main event. He tested positive for a very high testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 50-1 and oxandrolone and oxandrolone metabolites.

Bellator and M-1 Global reached an amicable agreement, allowing the former Bellator middleweight champion to fight overseas, but Bellator will not allow him to compete under its banner. The commission will have no issues if that remains the case.

“Bellator has assured me they’ll uphold the CSAC suspension in their events,” Foster added.

Shlemenko and his legal team sued the CSAC in September of last year for several reasons, including failing to conduct the drug test properly. Shlemenko’s team’s main case is that the CSAC failed to test the submitted B-sample. The Russian fighter is scheduled to face the commission in court in July.

The California State Athletic Commission won’t be taking action against former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko for fighting in Russia while serving a suspension.

Despite currently serving a three-year suspension for a failed drug test, Alexander Shlemenko is booked to face Vyacheslav Vasilevsky at M-1 Challenge 64 in February — and the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), which issued the suspension, won’t be taking action against him.

“We don’t have jurisdiction over there, and I don’t plan to take any action on someone who’s fighting beyond on our jurisdiction,” CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster told MMAjunkie.com.

Shlemenko, who signed with M-1 Global earlier this month, was suspended by the CSAC last June following a knockout win over Melvin Manhoef in the Bellator 133 main event. He tested positive for a very high testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 50-1 and oxandrolone and oxandrolone metabolites.

Bellator and M-1 Global reached an amicable agreement, allowing the former Bellator middleweight champion to fight overseas, but Bellator will not allow him to compete under its banner. The commission will have no issues if that remains the case.

“Bellator has assured me they’ll uphold the CSAC suspension in their events,” Foster added.

Shlemenko and his legal team sued the CSAC in September of last year for several reasons, including failing to conduct the drug test properly. Shlemenko’s team’s main case is that the CSAC failed to test the submitted B-sample. The Russian fighter is scheduled to face the commission in court in July.