UFC, Chael release statements on test fail
“We are made aware that a second random test resulted in a positive test result for Chael Sonnen. Chael will have an opportunity to appear in front of the NSAC…”
During last night’s UFN 44, Ariel Helwani reported that Chael Sonnen had received a second surprise test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and tested positive for four banned drugs, including HGH and EPO. This was the second drug test failure for Sonnen in as many weeks. Although Sonnen is now retired, at the time of the test he was scheduled to fight at UFC 175.
While the first test failure was for a drug regimen designed to wean his body off of the now banned Testosteroe Replacement Therapy, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) are unambiguously performance enhancing drugs. EPO is what disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted to taking throughout his career.
Back in 2010 Sonnen took Armstrong to task for a lack of transparency and an excess of hypocrisy, during an interview on Pro MMA Radio.
“When you screw up, you have to own it,” said Sonnen. “That stuff really gets under my skin. Take Lance Armstrong. Lance Armstrong did a number of things and he gave himself cancer. He cheated, he did drugs, and he gave himself cancer. Well, instead of saying ‘Hey listen, I cheated and gave myself cancer, don’t be like me.’ He actually made himself the victim and then went out and profited something like $15 million dollars from this ‘Hey, poor me, let’s find a cure for cancer’ campaign instead of just coming clean and saying, ‘Look, here’s what I did, I screwed myself up, and I hope people learn from my mistakes.’ You just watch these guys and can’t help but think, God, what a fraud.”
Curiously, no mention of the drug test was made by any of the analysts during the FOX Sports 1 broadcast. Sonnen is a UFC analyst for FS1.
After the fight both the UFC and Sonnen released official statements.
“We are made aware that a second random test resulted in a positive test result for Chael Sonnen,” said UFC Senior Director of Public Relations Dave Sholler at the post-fight press conference. “Chael will have an opportunity to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on July 23rd.
“We will support the commission and continue to ensure that all competitors complete on a level playing field free of performance enhancing drugs.”
When contacted by Helwani, Sonnen offered a statement.
“Yes, the Commission is aware of other prescribed medications I was taking and I will not challenge their allegations,” said Sonnen. “I will cooperate with the Commission and look forward to having a dialogue about how fighters who transition off TRT can avoid violating any rules.”
It appears that Sonnen is implying that the EPO and HGH were Dr. prescribed as well, but it make take until the hearing on July 23 to pin down exactly what happened.
Steve Juon, reporting on behalf of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, interviewed UFC Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner and Sholler about the tests.