Shamrock Suspended For Steroids

by Robert Sargent

Less than one month after his quick victory over super heavyweight Ross Clifton, MMA legend Ken Shamrock has been suspended for one year after testing positive for a variety of steroids following the fight. Shamrock has announced plans to appeal.

Shamrock's February 14th victory over Clifton, a massive super heavyweight who looked to be woefully out of shape, was just his second win in nine fights and it may be overturned.

Shamrock (27-13-2) tested positive for Stanozolol, 19-Norandrosterone and 19-Noretiocholanolone, according to the California State Athletic Commission. His manager has stated that he was taking over-the-counter drugs, and suspects that this may have caused the results of the test.

The suspension is merely the latest in a string of controversies for Shamrock. Following his third loss to bitter rival Tito Ortiz in the UFC, Shamrock was defeated by Robert "Buzz" Berry at Cage Rage 25 in England. The fight was highly suspect, as Shamrock dropped like a shot after being hit with a glancing jab. It was not the first time that a Shamrock knockout defeat had come under suspicion, though claims of fight fixing were never proven and likely hold little merit.

Regardless, Shamrock's once storied career has taken a nosedive since 2006, and this latest incident could very well prove to be the final nail in the coffin. If Shamrock returns, one can only hope that he first sheds the demons that are currently plaguing his life and career.