After Wanderlei Silva was removed from a scheduled UFC 175 bout with Chael Sonnen due to his refusal to take a random drug test and subsequent failure to show up for a meeting to explain himself, Chael Sonnen has now failed a drug test administered by the NSAC and is also off the UFC 175 card.
Following Silva’s removal from the card, Vitor Belfort was slotted to face Sonnen in Las Vegas but now the bout is off.
Sonnen was on a program too wean himself off TRT after the NSAC banned its usage but the drugs used in that procedure are also on the banned substance list.
MMAJunkie.com spoke with NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett:
“I’m not a doctor,” said Bennett. “All I do know is that those substances are banned, and it will be interesting to see what Mr. Sonnen’s response is as to why they were found in his system. At this point in time, I couldn’t comment on that.
” … I’m sure his overall history with his moral character and his previous tests, I’m sure that will all be considered by the commissioners, not that I’m speaking for them. But I think common sense would dictate that you look at all the events that he’s been involved with, and that will be part of the equation to end up with the results.”
” … [The punishment] could be anything from accepting his explanation to a fine and a suspension. Not having all the facts on the table at this time … as far as any guidelines for penalties, it would be accepting some form of explanation that he has to be objective and fair, and if that doesn’t suffice because both drugs are on the WADA list and they’re prohibited, it could be a fine and a suspension.”
