Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk (32-2-1) has been cleared from California's active suspension list on Monday after he paid the outstanding fine associated with his sentence, according to MMAWeekly.
Sherk was actually eligible for reinstatement as early as January but had not submitted payment until yesterday.
The "Muscle Shark" tested positive for a banned anabolic agent (Nandrolone) in the wake of his successful title defense against Hermes Franca at UFC 73: "Stacked" in July 2007.
He was subsequently stripped of his crown, suspended and fined by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) — a ruling that he bitterly denies and blames on a mix of dietary supplements, shoddy lab work, breaches in the "chain of custody" and other factors.
It was enough to get his suspension reduced from 12 months to six; however, Sherk's reputation has taken a big hit in the court of public opinion throughout the ordeal.
Sherk was pretty outspoken on his treatment by the CSAC, especially after being asked about the possibility of one day fighting again in the Golden State.
"It won't even be offered to me. The way (the CSAC does) stuff is very biased. They don't have rules; they don't have regulations ... they make stuff up as they go. There needs to be some kind of regulation. They want to follow WADA when it benefits them; they want to change things when it benefits them. Nobody overlooks them. There's got to be some sort of backlash to everything that's happened in the last five months."
Sherk is scheduled to face current lightweight champion BJ Penn (12-4-1) at UFC 84: "Ill Will" at the MGM Grand on May 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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