Former Bellator Champion Alexander Shlemenko just got good news from the California State Athletic Commission on Wednesday. The former Bellator Middleweight champion got a three-year suspension lifted by a technicality.
Shlemenko tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone after he knocked out Melvin Manhoef with a spinning back fist at Bellator 133. His suspension ended up being reduced based on the fact that that his original notification was only supposed to be a one year suspension, and that it should have been null and void after his license expired.
As a guy that has fought at two weights and for Bellator and M-1 Global, it's of no surprise that Shlemenko is ready to get back into the cage to fight and potentially get back his title.
“I am very happy to have this chapter behind me and am grateful to the U.S. court system for finding error with the CSAC findings and allowing me to immediately resume my career in the U.S.,” Shlemenko said in a statement provided to MMAjunkie.com.
Shlemenko still denied taking any performance enhancers. This denial comes despite the fact that his testosterone levels were that of a Super Sayain (over 12 times the California threshold) and a test that showed oxandrolone in his system.
By Justin Golightly
