Armando Garcia Leaves CSAC

by Cannon Jacques on Nov 10, 2008 8:24 AM EST in MMA News

The California State Athletic Commission will formally accept the resignation of Executive Officer Armando Garcia at a commission meeting on Nov. 18 in Los Angeles, according to a notice posted on the CSAC Web site. Garcia left the position he held for over three years this week, Sherdog.com has learned.

The commission will also name an interim executive officer and appoint a search committee to review candidates for Garcia’s replacement on Nov. 18, according to the agenda notes.

Of course, Garcia has drawn scrutiny in relation to several high profile steroid suspensions levied during his tenure. More recently, Garcia and the CSAC suspended ProElite's promoter's license.

HT: Fight Opinion

UPDATE: [by Kid Nate] Fightlinker has compiled a list of reasons that many fight fans will be glad to see Garcia go:

Suspending fighters for ‘faking a fight’ because one of them did a cartwheel pass.

Suspending Josh Thomson for wearing a t-shirt calling Frank Shamrock a bitch.

Allowing an HIV positive fighter to fight

Trying to cancel Frank Shamrock vs Phil Baroni over bogus health concerns

Hilariously inconsistent policy on cutting steroid suspensions in half

Refusing to license foreign refs who have had over 13 years worth of reffing experience

Re-licensed Mike Kyle, who assaulted another fighter with multiple illegal blows and had to be pulled off his victim by several referees

Cancelling events at the last second for bogus reasons

Delaying the Sean Sherk steroid thing forever because of complete ineptitude … not bothering to read the information Sherk’s lawyer sent them in advance

Fucking Phil Baroni in the ass over a false-positive testing

Constant delays in the Sean Sherk steroid case

Trying to ban smokers (and no, not the gross kind)

Suspending Nick Diaz for weed without testing Nick Diaz for weed

Constantly cancelling fights at the literal last second

Demanding a bond covering TWICE the amount of fighter pay

Medically suspending fighters for retarded amounts of time

Deviating from the Unified rules definition of ‘back of the head’

Cancelling Joe Riggs’ fight for a drug Riggs didn’t have in his system

Cancelling Aleks Emelianenko vs Paul Buentello seconds before Aleks was supposed to step on the scales for the weigh-in

Announcing failed steroid tests before confirmation

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Comments

Great news.

by smoogy on Nov 9, 2008 2:58 PM EST reply actions

Garcia did do a lot for MMA in California but then CSAC has also had almost constant scandals, botched rulings and bizarre decisions in the last three years too. I’ve got a feeling that he won’t be missed.

by who me on Nov 9, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions

Very good news. He was the worst one out there.

by penxv on Nov 9, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions

The guy who replaces him might be worse.

by DirtyML on Nov 9, 2008 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

This along with the improved drug testing procedures should perhaps convince the UFC to come back to California.

by Flying Gogoplata on Nov 9, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions

great post

had no idea his record was that dubious. great post

by Headkick on Nov 9, 2008 9:32 PM EST reply actions

Garcia can now go pursue his political career that he’s been trying to set up. Good Luck scumbag.

by KneesnBows on Nov 9, 2008 11:10 PM EST reply actions

For all the negatives, it wasn’t but about 2 1/2 years ago that MMA wasn’t even legal in the state of California. That’s pretty often forgotten.

by D.Capitated on Nov 9, 2008 11:13 PM EST reply actions

If he truly sodomized Baroni after only a false positive testing, I’d have to say I’d accept his resignation too. It’s not only unbecoming of a commission officer, it’s totally inappropriate in most situations outside of sports as well.

by Dooda on Nov 10, 2008 12:19 AM EST reply actions

while his tenure was certainly controversial...

… i dont know if his resignation signals a “not guilty” for all the drug abusers on that list. yeah, the csac may have mishandled several cases, but in this day and age, the idea of a “false positive” seems laughable to me. besides, i would imagine he wasn’t the ONLY person calling the shots on the commission (maybe i’m wrong). either way, hopefully someone more professional steps in to right the ship.

by woooburn on Nov 10, 2008 9:26 AM EST reply actions