Apr 09 2009
Chris Leben Is Back After Suspension; Cyclist Tammy Thomas Appeals Conviction
Chris Leben is expected to return to UFC once he completed serving his suspension for nine months. He is scheduled to fight Jake Rosholt in UFC 102 on August 29 in Portland, Oregon. According to MMA Junkie, both camps already agreed on this match up and on the stage of finalizing the fight. Leben will face Rosholt which also have a good debut in UFC. He is a former collegiate wrestler and joined the UFC this year.
The suspension on Chris Leben was due to his positive test for steroids after his fight with Michael Bisping. Unfortunately he lost in that fight. The Stanozolol, which is a banned steroid in UFC, caused Leben’s suspension for 9 months. Although he has a good record with 18-5, his steroid use tainted his name. Some people think that this would affect his comeback in UFC. If he is clean on his next fight, can he still win without steroids?
There is a question why Leben only got a 9 months suspension where it is common that a player who is tested positive for steroids is always given a year suspension. A comment from MMA Junkie explains this issue saying that it depends on where the infraction occurs. “In California it usually ends up being one year, in Nevada though it seems like they normally do 9 months. This fight took place in the UK where there is no athletic commission to dole out the penalty, so it is up to the UFC to determine the appropriate penalty. It would appear that they chose to use the Nevada standard.”
Another steroid related case is the rejected appeals of cyclist Tammy Thomas. She was one of the 11 defendant in the BALCO case. In the report of CBS5, her petition to reopen the case was rejected by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of San Fransisco. According to Thomas, her trial last year was unfair because prosecutors failed to give her defense lawyers significant evidences which were favorable to her. She also argued that she should have been given the 145-page government report which was part of the BALCO investigation. It included information on an allegation that Jeff Novitsky, the chief investigator in the BALCO case, was considering a book deal.
The federal judge responded to this issue saying that the book deal was just a rumor and it was later denied by Novitsky. She further said that even if the allegation was true it would not affect the decision of the jury.
Tammy Thomas, a former champion in cycling, was convicted last year for 3 counts of making false statements about her steroid use and one count of obstructing justice in grand jury testimony in 2003. Judge Illston sentenced her to 6 months of home confinement. Thomas is still not resting on her case. She also filed an appeal to 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hoping that she would get a favorable decision.
Other defendants in the BALCO case were already convicted when they pleaded guilty for making false statements during the probe or distributing steroids. The only case which is still on trial is Barry Bonds. The perjury case of Bonds is a little bit complicated since both parties, the prosecution and defense were arguing on the rules on presenting evidence on the court.
[...] Chris “The Crippler” Leben who was suspended for nine months after a positive steroid test is now prepared for UFC 102 to be held in Portland. His last fight with Michael Bisping in England was a loss and at the same time he was sanctioned after the fight because of steroid stanozolol. It’s popularly known as Winstrol. He also lost one-third of his UFC 89 purse and including nutrition sponsors. In an interview with MMA Fanhouse, Leben is determined to prove himself again. He wants to move on and has learned his lesson. [...]