Sonnen: My contract has massive penalty for drug test failure

Bellator MMA gangsterweight fighter Chael Sonnen has an unfortunate history of failed performance-enhancing drug tests.

He tested positive for Anastrozole, Clomiphene, and human chorionic gonadotropin prior to a fight with Vitor Belfort at UFC 175 in July of 2014, and promptly retired “forever.” Results from a second test failed for human growth hormone (HGH), recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), and hCG.

Sonnen was eventually suspended for two years, and was released by the UFC and FOX Sports from his broadcasting job.

He had previously failed a test in 2010 after losing a title shot at the UFC G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva, when his testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 16.9:1, 17 times the normal ration, and four times the legal limit.

The UFC has contracted with the US Anti-Doping Agency to perform random, comprehensive, out of competition testing for the entire roster.

Bellator MMA under president Scott Coker does not.

Our policy is that we always abide by what the state athletic commission wants to do, says Coker.

The problem is that many state ACs are not equipped to effectively test for performance enhancing drugs. Many have the means to determine to some extent whether a fighter has any PEDs or telltale signs of same at the time of the fight in that state, but that is about it.

Testing on a known date is as much and IQ test as it is a test for PEDs.

However, during a media conference call, Sonnen revealed that his contract with Bellator contains a massive penalty if he is caught.

“Scott had said earlier that he didn’t really want to talk about the contract so, I’m hesitant to offer this, but allow me to anyway,” said Sonnen, as transcribed by SteveJuon for MMA Mania. “If I was to fail a test under my Bellator contract, it will cost me 100 percent of my purse, and $500,000. That is in writing. Now, I understand for you guys that’s not as good as a clean test, but boy that’s gotta mean something. If you think I didn’t read that part of it before I signed it, I did.”

“I don’t know if that was unique to me or if that was boilerplate that everybody’s got. I don’t know. But, I saw that. That’s before you deal with your commission issues and everything else. It was right off the top — full purse, $500 grand. That’s just to Bellator. That’s before we start dealing with commissions. I don’t know if they set that aside for me, but I’m on the other side of the tracks now.”

However, when Sonnen signed with Bellator, he spoke with the AP’s Greg Beacham, who asked him why he long maintained he was going to stay retired forever.

I’m a heel, replied Sonnen. Heels lie.

So does Chael Sonnen have a half million dollar test failure penalty in his Bellator MMA contract, or did he make it up on the spot?

Sonnen also said fans will be impressed with his build now that he is clean.

“You wouldn’t believe it if you saw!” he said. “I’ve still got the biggest arms in the business.”