Royce Gracie (Pictures) will not appeal the suspension handed down by the California State Athletic Commission after it said the Brazilian legend tested positive for a banned anabolic agent following his win against Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) June 2 in Los Angeles.
Gracie had until July 13 to file for an appeal, however the CSAC said on Monday that its office had not received a formal appeal hearing request and as a result the $2,500 fine and one-year suspension, which expires May 30, 2008, are final.
"I did not appeal the decision because I have been in Spain for the last 1 1/2 (months) on vacation with my family, and for me to appeal, I would have to get a lawyer, and then get some experts to run tests and then get more experts to argue with their experts -- or I can just pay $2,500 fine, and sit out for one year," Gracie said via e-mail Monday. "Well, I fight once a year anyway and it's much cheaper to pay $2,500 in fine then $10,000 retainer to attorney's alone. As for my fans, those who believe me, believe me anyway, and those who don't, does not matter what I do, or what I say, they will not believe anyway."
Gracie, who made $300,000 for his three-round decision win on the FEG-promoted "Dynamite!! USA" card at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, tested positive for Nandrolone, a widely used anabolic steroid.
According to the CSAC, a normal person could potentially produce 2 ng/mL of Nandrolone, while an athlete following "rigorous physical exercise" could have a level of 6 ng/mL. Both "A" and "B" samples provided by Gracie "had a level of over 50 ng/mL and we were informed that the level itself was so elevated that it would not register on the laboratory's calibrator," said the CSAC.
The early June bout marked the first time Gracie -- who competed five times in Japan from 2000-2005 after taking half a decade away from the ring following 13 unregulated UFC contests on American soil -- was required to undergo tests for steroids conducted by a regulatory body.
Gracie had until July 13 to file for an appeal, however the CSAC said on Monday that its office had not received a formal appeal hearing request and as a result the $2,500 fine and one-year suspension, which expires May 30, 2008, are final.
"I did not appeal the decision because I have been in Spain for the last 1 1/2 (months) on vacation with my family, and for me to appeal, I would have to get a lawyer, and then get some experts to run tests and then get more experts to argue with their experts -- or I can just pay $2,500 fine, and sit out for one year," Gracie said via e-mail Monday. "Well, I fight once a year anyway and it's much cheaper to pay $2,500 in fine then $10,000 retainer to attorney's alone. As for my fans, those who believe me, believe me anyway, and those who don't, does not matter what I do, or what I say, they will not believe anyway."
Gracie, who made $300,000 for his three-round decision win on the FEG-promoted "Dynamite!! USA" card at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, tested positive for Nandrolone, a widely used anabolic steroid.
According to the CSAC, a normal person could potentially produce 2 ng/mL of Nandrolone, while an athlete following "rigorous physical exercise" could have a level of 6 ng/mL. Both "A" and "B" samples provided by Gracie "had a level of over 50 ng/mL and we were informed that the level itself was so elevated that it would not register on the laboratory's calibrator," said the CSAC.
The early June bout marked the first time Gracie -- who competed five times in Japan from 2000-2005 after taking half a decade away from the ring following 13 unregulated UFC contests on American soil -- was required to undergo tests for steroids conducted by a regulatory body.
