UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen must have broken a few mirrors while walking under ladders and in front of a pack of black cats.
According to Steve Cofield of Yahoo Sports, the California State Athletic Commission has sidelined Sonnen indefinitely due to him pleading guilty on January 3, 2011 to the charge of money laundering in which Sonnen was sentenced to 24 months of probation, fined $10,000, lost his real estate license in Oregon and is now labeled a felon.
Trent Reinsmith of Bleach Report said that the CSAC now claims they made an error in the ruling.
“According to a press release from the CSAC, Sonnen will be free to apply for licensing after his California license expires on June 29, 2011,” said Trent.
However, there is still no guarantee that they will grant Sonnen his license renewal.
Sonnen was suspended by the CSAC when he tested positive for high levels of testosterone after his title fight with Anderson Silva, in August of 2010.
The dispute over the failed drug test remained as Sonnen claims that he informed the commission of his medically diagnosed, low-testosterone condition called hypogonadism, which required him to inject testosterone twice a week.
He appealed his suspension on the grounds that his medical condition is legitimate and the commission chose to reduce the suspension from one year to six months.
His suspension officially ended on March 2, 2011.
Sonnen, attempted to re-apply for his license to fight but, according to Wikipedia, “California State Executive Director George Dodd on May 10, 2011, released a statement that Sonnen had been placed on an indefinite administrative suspension in California, and would have to appear before the California State Athletic Commission to appeal the decision.
“Dodd added that it was his understanding that the Nevada State Athletic Commission would be honoring California’s suspension of Sonnen.”
As expected, UFC President, Dana White is not pleased with the commission’s decision and voiced his opinion to Heavy MMA.
“I’m pretty bummed out about the Chael Sonnen thing and the way that the whole thing was handled. You know, this guy…I don’t know if there’s ever been a penalty laid down, I mean Tyson, I think when Tyson bit the ear, Tyson got a year. Um…it’s pretty crazy.”
White went on to say, “It’s not that he’d have to retire, but right now was his opportunity. This kid had the opportunity to coach The Ultimate Fighter. He had the opportunity to get a big fight set up. Should he win that fight, everybody knows what happened with Anderson Silva. This was a key moment in this kid’s career.”
How this suspension will affect Sonnen’s mindset or career has yet to be determined.
We can only hope that things will work out in his favor and that we will see him back in the Octagon sooner than later.
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