From Fox Sports: It’s time to add another name to the list of prominent athletes associated with anabolic steroids.
Ken Shamrock recently ended a five-fight losing streak. (Zuffa, LLC / Special to FOXSports.com)
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Ken Shamrock has tested positive for three different banned substances, the California State Athletic Commission announced Wednesday night.
He failed a drug test taken prior to his Feb. 13 victory over Ross Clifton in Fresno, Calif. Shamrock is now suspended from all mixed martial arts competition nationwide through Feb. 1, 2010.
Shamrock, 45, will have the chance to appeal his failed test with the California commission. He tested positive for norandrosterone, noretiocholanolone and stanozolol.
The UFC Hall of Famer, was scheduled to face fellow former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley on March 21 in Pensacola, Fla.
Shamrock (27-13-2) ended a five-fight losing streak when he forced Clifton to submit in the first round of their bout.
Shamrock was one of the sport’s early pioneers as his battles with fellow Hall of Famers Royce Gracie and Dan Severn in the early to mid ’90s helped put mixed martial arts on the map.
“The World’s Most Dangerous Man” was also a big reason for the UFC’s strong pay-per-view presence this decade.
His feud with Tito Ortiz and their three matches (2002 and twice in 2006) attracted large audiences. Ortiz became a huge star by stopping Shamrock each time, with their final two bouts ending in the first round.
It was apparent that Shamrock was well past his prime. However, he continued to fight and the losses quickly mounted.
His reputation in the sport was severely hurt and is considered a pariah in many circles.
Last October, Shamrock was supposed to fight Internet sensation Kimbo Slice in an EliteXC main event. Shamrock had to pull out the day before the bout because of a cut.
Slice went on to lose in 14 seconds to Seth Petruzelli and EliteXC folded amid controversy regarding that bout.
In the late ’90s through the beginning of the 2000s, Shamrock became a star in pro wrestling. He worked in many high-profile angles for the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.