Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca Test Positive for Steroids
UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk, who successfully defended his belt on July 7th at UFC 73, has tested positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone according to published reports. Sherk has been fined $2,500, the maximum amount allowed in California. He has also been suspended from competition in California until July 6, 2008.
Nandrolone levels in the typical person are approximately 2 ng/ml in an average person and up to 6 ng/ml in a professional athlete. Sherk’s A and B samples showed 12 ng/ml of Nandrolone Metabolite, the detectable version of the steroid.
The challenger for his title, Hermes Franca, has also tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone. According to reports Franca injured his ankle several months before the fight and turned to steroids to speed up the healing process. Franca was fined $2,500 and suspended from competition in California until July 5, 2008.
The California State Athletic Comission, the body who sanctioned the event, requires all fighters be tested for banned substances. With more reports forthcoming Mark Bocek, Frank Edgar, Chris Lytle, Jason Gilliam, Diego Saraiva, Jorge Gurgel, Stephan Bonnar, and Mike Nickels have all passed the required drug tests.
Both fighters can appeal the results of the tests within 30 days. Sean Sherk’s camp has stated they are likely to appeal while Franca’s admission of guilt essentially rules out an appeal for the fighter meaning his fine and suspension are likely to stand.
Two previous UFC champions have also tested positive for banned substances. Josh Barnett defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship but was stripped of the title after he tested positive for steroids. Tim Sylvia won the heavyweight title from Gan McGee at UFC 44 but post-fight drug testing revealed anabolic steroids. After admitting guilt Sylvia too lost the title.
If Sean Sherk’s positive test stands it is expected that the UFC will strip him of the lightweight title.
They need to start paying attention to what kind of supplements their taking or just stop taking them period! Just be all natural.
That is assuming these were accidental.
Franca has stated he knowingly took them to heal his ankle while Sherk's camp has denied knowledge of the steroids so far.
I should add that both have the right to appeal within one month from now.
I guess we know why Sherk didnt get knocked out by those knees!
I was looking forward the fight against Penn
I was too Mikey, it will be an interesting situation to watch now that the UFC has acknowledged the positive tests.
If they knowingly took roids while obviously knowing they would have to take a drug test, they should be banned from the UFC. That is just stupidity.
I agree steve and, I think at the very least the UFC shouldn't allow them to fight anywhere until their suspensions in Cali are clear.
To plea ignorance is basicly calling everyone stupid. Look at Sherk. I really don't, and won't feel sorry for him when he is stripped of the title. In championship bouts, I believe both competitors should be tested, and champions should lead by example. It's a way to show the fighters that the only way to be on top is to stay clean, and do it natural. It's only right Sherk should be stripped of the title, and anyone suspended who is under contract with the UFC absolutely shouldn't be allowed to fight anywhere outside the UFC unless they are willing to be banned completely. That would also cause them legal troubles as well trying to ditch there contractual obligations. Also, any organization who would allow fighters who knowingly used steroids should suffer some sort of ramifications as well.
Kris: I'm not trying to sound too negative, but drugs is something I will never tolerate.
Also, I made a comment on another MMA site that got a pretty nice response.
I bet Floyd Mayweather Jr. is laughing right now at the UFC since Dana White has been calling him out trying to get him to fight Sherk. And now look what Sherk does. It's pretty embarrassing as an MMA fan.
I am totally with you Steve. Drugs have no place in sports and I applaud all efforts to rid MMA as well as other sports of them. It is an embarrassment not only to himself but all those who backed him, supported him, and backed what he has done. I think the backlash on this situation will force the UFC to act accordingly and whether it is booting him out of the organization, stripping him of the title, adding more strict testing for him in the future I am all for it.
MMA has a drug problem plain and simple and the UFC as well as the whole MMA community needs to act. If the UFC doesn't act accordingly I think the organization that is the most strict on drugs might be able to capitalize on a negative situation.
@ scotchydow - I think what you said is the feelings of almost all MMA fans. The problem is enforcement and disclosure. Until all fighters are tested for banned substances and recreational drugs and all results are publicly disclosed there will never be true enforcement. Testing all top contenders and title fight participants is a good start.
"If the UFC doesn't act accordingly I think the organization that is the most strict on drugs might be able to capitalize on a negative situation."
Damn straight!!!! Sherk, Franca, Baroni, Gracie!!! What is going on here????? The list keeps growing!!
MMA needs to have a no tolerance policy. One strike your out!!
The question I have now is not who is going to win the fight, but wait about a week and wait for the results. That's truly sad!
It's sad indeed…
Is anyone really surprised by this. I took a look at his physique and could tell he'd been on 'roids.
I hope Dana White comes down hard on this issue and issues a zero tolerance policy. We don't want a Benoit situation to happen in MMA…
There's also another side to the steriod debate. Which is many of these tests for banned substances can be incredibly inaccurate. They mistake common substances for 'roids all the time.
Now, I'm not saying that is the case with Sherk.. I also had my suspicions about the dude after seeing his physique.. I just hope MMA can avoid a Benoit-type situation…
I think that this is an embarrasment to the sport and its making all the other fighters look bad. Sherk USED to be my favorite fighter, but from now on Sherk lost a huge fan. He should also be stripped of the title because the UFC has a zero tolerance for steroids use, and it should be given to someone who deserves it like kenny florian. Sherk was one of the best 155ers around but know that we know this doeesn't make you think if he won the title on steroids, I mean the UFC itself says it that they dont drug test every fighter because of all the money that would be spent. To me being a up-and-coming 155er its really an embarrasment cause I'm a fighter and i dont want people asking whether i take steroid to win.
I couldn't agree more sebastien. The UFC will, in all likelihood strip him of his title on or around August 6th, the date of his appeal. Obviously if it's overturned then there are many more scenarios that could play out but I think Sherk will be out of the UFC for a year and will be stripped of the title.
I believe someone like Florian or another up-and-comer will face Penn in November for the vacant title.
I am starting to train in MMA but I agree, it casts a shadow on the entire sport when someone who is a champion of their sport who is applauded for his training and toughness tests positives. Absolutely horrible judgment, I just hope the response is appropriate.
At this point one thing that could lessen the damage of this situation is that an NBA referee is being investigated for sports betting which could over shadow this and keep it out of the eyes of the majority of people.
Napao, there is a lot of talk on the validity of tests and I would say if you were within a point or two margin, yes this could be true but his levels (both a and b samples) were twice that of the highest athletes and 6x the average person.
He does take 22 supplements by his own admission and could one of those interfered? Possibly but I think we are, in all liklihood, dealing with someone who took them intentionally, not on accident or who had a false positive test.
Im really in shock with Mr Shaun Sherk, after watching UFC All Access, I was astounded by how well the guy trains and eats, and I was well impressed by the way he led a "clean" life style. To be honest I had a lot of respect for him as I have never seen anyone so committed to his Health and sport, now I feel if he is guilty of steroid abuse then he is a total hypocrite and should be banned from the UFC for a period of time. Steroids is NOT the route, as the cons out weigh the pro's 100 - 1, All these young kids looking up to the Shaun Sherks of the world as a role model what message is this sending?
[...] both filed appeals with the California State Athletic Commission. The appeals are challenging their positive drug tests following their Lightweight Championship bout at UFC 73 on July 7th and the subsequent year [...]
I couldn't agree more Mark, Sherk really hurt the sport and his reputation with this move and I think it would have been a lot less had he not just appeared on All Access. It was really poor timing to have him featured then test positive for steroids. It's too bad the situation had to happen as its damage extends beyond just the fighter.
[...] the lightweight division in disarray following the positive drug tests by Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca (pending appeals), either fighter could become a top contender in [...]
[...] Thanks for visiting UFCDaily.com!Sean Sherk has released the following brief statement regarding his positive drug test at UFC 73 and the appeal he has filed with the California State Athletic Commission: “At the [...]