Chael Sonnen: More Details Emerge About Indefinite Suspension and Hearing

Chael Sonnen at UFC 117

UFC middleweight and former title contender Chael Sonnen has been placed under an indefinite suspension by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), making him ineligible to obtain a license to fight in the state of California. MMAWeekly.com first reported the news on Tuesday.

The suspension comes two months after having completed his previously reduced suspension for testosterone use, stemming from his Aug. 7 title bout against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

CSAC Executive Director George Dodd, in speaking with MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday, confirmed the two factors behind the current suspension: Sonnen’s guilty plea for his money laundering case in Oregon, and also the possibility of false testimony during the UFC fighter’s hearing before the commission on Dec. 2, 2010, to appeal his last suspension.

“What we’re going to be looking at is his testimony (about) his discussion that he had with the Nevada State Athletic Commission,” Dodd explained Wednesday morning. “Because that could have led some of the commissioners to change or sway their vote as far as… the testosterone use. So, we’re going to look at that.”

Sonnen’s appeal of the indefinite suspension will take place on May 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan State Office Building in Los Angeles.

“Karen Chappelle, who is a deputy district attorney general for us, is going to be leading that case and she’s been reviewing that,” added Dodd.

The indefinite suspension stretches to California borders only, according to the executive director.  It is up to the other states to either abide by the suspension or choose to ignore it, but most athletic commissions in the United States typically honor other state’s suspensions.