The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) upheld the contract between Goossen Tutor Promotions, and RING super middleweight champ Andre Ward, the Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based promotional company announced on Wednesday.

Ward, claiming that the contract was invalid for numerous reasons, has been inactive so far in 2014 as he's tried to sever ties with Goossen Tutor. However, the CSAC's arbitrator, Andy Foster, Executive Director for the state agency, ruled that the contract is valid through to Nov. 8, 2016.

In June 2013, in a prior arbitration initiated by Ward, the arbitrator also ruled Goossen’s contract “valid.” Ward tried again in December 2013 to have the contract held invalid.

“It’s now time to sit down with Andre and his advisors to put these legal disputes behind us and concentrate on getting Andre back to fighting consistently, inside the ring," Goossen Tutor president Dan Goossen stated in the press release. "Andre and I have had success together; and there’s no reason not to get back on track as a team to secure his status as the top fighter in the world behind Floyd Mayweather.”

Bert Fields, who argued the case for Goossen, stated: “Of course I’m pleased with the decision. It was the right result both morally and legally. Ward’s a great fighter; but it was Goossen who helped build his professional career and put him in position to command the really big bucks.”