He gave up the belt, got a 7500 dollar fine and got 4 months suspension on the plus side he gets title shot after the suspension is over.

Against who, I wonder?

The current champ I'm guessing or a rematch with Gan. Randy got his shot after barrent got stripped of the belt.

Who is the current Champ? Damn, I've missed alot in the last few days!

If they have a current champ at the time he gets a rematch is what I'm saying.

Oh. Damn, the HW division is in shambles.

Tim was handed a 4-month suspension and fined $7500. The big surprise is that Tim himself voluntarily gave up the UFC heavyweight belt. Just moments after the hearing, Tim came on MMAWeekly Radio with Ryan Bennett again apologizing and thanking everyone who has and does support him, breaking down for a moment as he did so. A very moving moment.

All I can say is, whether you believe Tim screwed up or not, I have nothing but respect for the way he handled the whole situation. Not too many men would give up that belt voluntarily, especially with a 4-month suspension.


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Ken Pishna
MMAWeekly.com

Mir x Orlovski

Nuff said......

And Gan wants a rematch! An email was sent to Ryan Bennett while listening to the morning show, from the manager of Gan.

Was he forced to give up the belt or was it all voluntary?

Todays News
Sylvia Receives Fine and Suspension...Gives Up Belt Posted by: [Curly Howard] on 10-15-2003 @ 12:57 PM

Tim Sylvia went in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission today for his reported use of illegal steroids prior to UFC 44. The Commission fined Sylvia $7500 and also suspended him for 4 months. Tim then voluntarily gave up his title as UFC heavyweight champion.
Fernando Vargas received 9 months and Josh Barnett a 6 month suspension for their steroid use infractions. No word yet from Dana White or Zuffa entertainment on what will be done with the now vacant UFC title.

IMO, he should've gotten a year-long suspension and the UFC should've forced him to give up the belt. This amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Four months isn't a long time at all.

I think the way he handled it played in to the decision. If he would have tried to drag it out and fight it he probably would have got more. That's a lot of money for these guys also.
Plus he surrendered the belt voluntarily

And to top it off, he gets a title shot right after that? Arlovski vs. Sylvia was the next logical fight, and that was going to happen anyway...now it'll just be delayed one show. People will just have to wait one ****ing show, that's all.

Why doesn't Dana White just say, "Hey Tim, it's cool you took steroids...we'll keep the belt for just a while and when you come back for the next show, we'll feed you Arlovski, you'll kick his ass, we give you the belt back and everyone will act like nothing happened."

This is bull****. Sylvia should be dropped in the pecking order and let Arlovski and Mir fight for the belt. Then, once Tim's year-long suspension is over, he can start from there.

I think they were a bit leniant on him but I like the way he handled this whole mess, he took the balme and the punishment. 4 months is short though. He's been suspended for steroids but he'll probably still fight before Tito does.

It has a lot to do with how to handle it I think. Josh said he shouldn't be susspened because of how the test was done (some techicality). Vargas said he didn't take them on purpose. Tim said I took them because I wanted to look better the next time I fought and I am sorry