UFC fighter Chris Leben suspended for steroids

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has suspended October main-event fighter Chris Leben for nine months, with the mixed martial arts organization's parent company announcing the fighter tested positive for the steroid stanozolol following his unanimous-decision loss to Michael Bisping Oct. 18 in Birmingham, England.

"I am obviously disappointed with Chris, who has made great strides getting his life back on track," UFC President Dana White said in a prepared statement, referring to Leben's past bouts with alcohol use. "To his credit, he has taken responsibility for his actions and is accepting the punishment that has been handed down. But as always, the UFC puts the safety of its athletes first and foremost, and we won't tolerate anyone using performance enhancing drugs in our organization."

Leben, 28, fell to 18-5 in losing a middleweight fight to Bisping (18-1) that puts the winner in position to challenge current middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Leben was knocked out by Silva in 49 seconds in a 2006 fight.

He now finds himself suspended and docked one-third of his prize money from the Bisping fight. Lengthy drug-suspension layoffs were detrimental to two recent UFC fighters, as former lightweight champion Sean Sherk lost to B.J. Penn in his first fight back, and Hermes Franca also suffered a loss after testing positive in 2007 bout in Sacramento.

Like Franca -- but unlike so many other athletes who deny use after a positive test -- Leben confronted his suspension with an admission. 

"This is a huge setback for me, but it is something I will have to deal with," Leben said in a statement released by UFC. "During my time off from fighting, I want to speak to kids about the dangers of using performance enhancing agents and let them know it just doesn't get you ahead in life."

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Britain's Michael Bisping (left) wrestles Chris Leben during an Oct. 18 Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight bout in Birmingham, England. Credit: Simon Dawson / Associated Press

Comments

[Mr T]

hahahahahhaha stupid leben

[Jerry Odom]

Leben certainly looked the part of a steroid case during the fight. It was fairly obvious his body had taken serious makeover. I'm a Leben fan but now I'm relieved he lost due to cheating.