Former Bellator Champ Sues Athletic Commission Over PED Suspension And Fine

Former Bellator MMA middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko has filed a lawsuit against the California State Athletic Commission.

The commission suspended Shlemenko following his KO win over Melvin Manhoef, after it was discovered that he failed his post-fight drug test. The commission handed down the harshest penalty it had ever given since regulating MMA, with a three year suspension and a $10,000 fine.

The lawsuit that Shlemenko filed states that the CSAC failed to hand down a punishment that is in line with previous offenses, proceeded to hand out penalties that they had not yet adopted as actual rules and also did not give the proper notice regarding the type of hearing and sanctions they were going to be seeking.

Shlemenko, before being suspended, was looking to rebound with the win over Manhoef, after losing his title to Brandon Halsey and before that losing to light heavyweight Tito Ortiz.

The former champ was on a nice 13 fight win streak before the Ortiz fight, but now finds himself on the sidelines for a possible three years, which could turn out to be a career killer in the sport of MMA.

What do you guys think?

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