Once billed as the world's most dangerous man, Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame member Ken Shamrock has likely ended his career at the age of 44 after testing positive to three forms of steroid.

California State Athletic Commission officials drug tested Shamrock after his recent fight against 360lb journeyman Ross Clifton at a Wargods event and announced Wednesday that the results were positive for banned drugs. Shamrock (27-13-2) defeated Ross (The Grizzly) Clifton via submission one minute into the WarGods fight. Prior to that he had lost eight of his last 10 bouts, dating back to August 2000.

The commission has suspended the mixed martial arts veteran for one year, fined him $2500, and stated that the drugs present in his system were 19-Norandrosterone, 19-Noretiocholanolone and Stanozolol.

Shamrock's manager, attorney Rod Donohoo, told Sherdog.com that the fighter adamantly denies the allegations of steroid use and will appeal the suspension.

Said Donohoo, "Ken was taking legal over-the-counter products, and based upon our preliminary research, I’m investigating if those products were the result of these findings."

Shamrock had been scheduled to fight ex-WWE pro wrestler Bobby Lashley at an event in Florida on March 21, but that fight is almost definitely not going ahead as a suspension under one U.S. state athletic commission carries over to all others. Shamrock was paid $25,000 for his last fight.

Shamrock is a legend in the sport of MMA, having emerged from the Japanese shoot wrestling Pancrase circuit to compete strongly at the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in 1993, in which he lost the final to Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Royce Gracie. Shamrock was a mainstay of the UFC in subsequent years, winning the UFC Superfight title at UFC 6 off Dan Severn.

His UFC career ended after a multi-fight feud with light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz culminated in Shamrock being beaten three times.

Donohoo stated that Shamrock is prepared to undergo immediate re-testing to prove his innocence.

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