The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) handed down a 1-year suspension to UFC’s middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen. In the press release of the CSAC, the suspension was due to a very high testosterone-to-estrogen level in his urine sample. This is an indicator that Sonnen used anabolic steroids. A confirmatory test also showed the same result. Aside from the suspension, CSAC also imposed $2,500 fine on Sonnen.

Chael Sonnen lost against Anderson Silva last month. A rematch will not happen soon because of this suspension. Sonnen will likely miss 2 to 3 matches while his suspension is in effect. However, for some MMA fans the suspension is not enough. The UFC President is urged to impose their own sanctions on fighters caught using steroids. As long as there are fighters being caught using steroids, the anti-doping policy of the UFC is not effective. Critics say that a total ban of the player will be more effective in curtailing steroid use in the sport of mixed martial arts.

UFC President Dana White can do more in preventing fighters to engage in performance enhancing drugs. “Dana White can use his bully pulpit today and tell the MMA world that fighters caught with steroids in their system won’t have a place in the UFC. It certainly won’t stop everyone, but it may force enough to pause, think, and question if it’s really worth the risk,” Josh Gross of SI.com.

The current suspension and fines imposed on erring players are not enough. “The money’s too big and consequences aren’t big enough—that much is clear, because it keeps happening. The use of this stuff is also, clearly, cheating, which should hopefully still mean something. Bottom line, it doesn’t have any place in MMA, let alone the biggest promotion in the world,” Gross added.

But for White, the existing penalties being imposed by state athletic commissions are enough. During an interview, he reiterated that it is the government who makes the decisions and they are the one telling his fighters what will happen if they violate the rules.

White still want to make it clear that he is not leaving the issue to government regulatory agencies. He gave as an example the case of Josh Barnett. “People are all going to make mistakes. I judge you by how you react to the mistakes you make,” White told MMAFighting.

“There’s guys out there like Josh Barnett. Josh Barnett tested positive three times and this guy denies it every time. Everybody’s a liar but him. I just saw an interview he did where he said he could really give a [expletive] about anybody else but himself. And that’s why Josh Barnett isn’t and will never be in the UFC. This isn’t the kind of guy that I respect or want to do business with,” White added.

However, Josh Barnett reacted on his statement. “Just saw another one with Dana going on about me. Sorry you’ll never be a “real” tough guy. Its not for all of us… like Boxercise,” Barnett wrote on his twitter account. Barnett is now working for the StrikeForce. He tested positive for anabolic steroids in UFC 36 and before his fight with Fedor Emelianenko in Affliction.

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