CSAC: If no appeal, Sonnen out until Sept. 2, 2011
California State Athletic Commission Executive Director George Dodd today told MMAjunkie.com that Sonnen is currently under suspension and has 30…
California State Athletic Commission Executive Director George Dodd today told MMAjunkie.com that Sonnen is currently under suspension and has 30 days to respond to the notice, which came nearly six weeks after his title fight with Silva at UFC 117.
Dodd said he plans to release the drug for which Sonnen tested positive this afternoon.
Dodd said Sonnen was flagged first on Sept. 2 after an initial test revealed the presence of a performance-enhancer. A second, more-rigorous test confirmed the results.
If Sonnen chooses not to appeal the test results, Dodd said, he will be suspended until Sept. 2, 2011, and will face a $2,500 fine.
“We always say you want to make [the appeal] at the next commission meeting (from the notice),” Dodd said. “The next [meeting] after that probably won’t be until the following year, and from what I understand, he has a rematch with Anderson Silva possibly in February. He’ll probably be maintaining the suspension unless he gets on the agenda next time.”
