Alexander Shlemenko’s drug suspension to be lifted after court ruling

Alexander Shlemenko will be able to fight again in the United States much sooner than expected.

The former Bellator middleweight champion had his three-year suspension and $10,000 fine from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) reduced in a court decision Wednesday, per court documents. Shlemenko tested positive for steroids in February 2015 and was levied the sanctions by a unanimous commission vote in June 2015.

The California Superior Court ruled that CSAC was only able to suspend Shlemenko until his license expired back on Feb. 28.. Shlemenko will also have to pay only a $5,000 fine. The Russian fighter’s suspension will be lifted as soon as he pays the fine. Shlemenko is still under contract with Bellator, per promotion spokesperson Danny Brener.

Shlemenko’s attorney Howard Jacobs argued that Shlemenko was unfairly given a three-year suspension when the initial letter of notification sent to him by CSAC read that he only faced a one-year suspension. The court agreed that CSAC was not legally able to increase the length of the sanction after the appeal process.

Shlemenko, 32, was initially fined $10,000, half due to him making alleged false statements on drug-testing documents. Jacobs argued that the …

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