Chael Sonnen To Appeal Failed PED Test

By Mark Wayne | September 21, 2010 | Comments

Source: MMAJunkie

Number one UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen is the center of MMA media attention this week as news broke Saturday night that the outspoken fighter had tested positive for steroids following his career-defining performance against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva this past August at UFC 117. It was revealed by the California State Athletic Commission that Sonnen failed his test for performance enhancing drugs due to abnormally high levels of testosterone in his urine sample. According to CSAC executive director George Dodd, Sonnen had indicated prior to his test that he was using a substance that could trigger a positive test result, though he never indicated any justifiable medical reason for taking any such substance. Sonnen's manager, Mike Roberts, spoke with MMAJunkie.com today and revealed that his client, who has stayed uncharacteristically mum so far, will be appealing the failed test with the CSAC but was unable to offer much more information.

"It is our policy not to comment on pending actions by the athletic commission," Roberts stated. "Chael is consulting with his legal [advisers] and physicians and will have a statement in the near future. Chael will file an appeal with the CSAC and looks forward to working with the commission to resolve this matter."

"There's not much else I can say at this point," he added.

Dodd spoke with media earlier in the week and revealed that Sonnen will have thirty days to file his appeal, with the earliest his appeal could be heard being this December 2nd. Sonnen's initial test was reexamined at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory after showing up positive for PEDs. No word yet on how this will affect his proposed rematch with Anderson Silva, which was likely to take place in early February. Should Sonnen's appeal be turned down, he will face a $2,500 fine and a mandated year-long suspension.

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Chael Sonnen Tested Positive For Unnaturally High Testosterone Levels

By Mark Wayne | September 20, 2010

Source: SI.com

SportsIllustrated.com spoke this afternoon with California State Athletic Commission executive director George Dodd, who issued further details regarding UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen's recent drug test failure.

Sonnen put on possibly the best performance of his career this past August when he challenged UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva for his belt at UFC 117; though he did not win (Silva submitted Sonnen via triangle late in round five), Sonnen performed better against "The Spider" than any of his previous UFC challengers, dominating the Brazilian dynamo for the majority of five rounds. His victory may now forever be marred as it was revealed by the CSAC yesterday that Sonnen had failed his UFC 117 pre-fight drug screening for performance enhancing drugs.

According to CSAC executive director George Dodd, Sonnen failed his test for registering an abnormally high level of testosterone. The one-time Oregonian political hopeful actually informed the commission beforehand that he had been using a substance that could alter his test, although he failed to list any medical reason for the necessary ingestion of a testosterone-altering drug.

"He only indicated that he was taking it but he never indicated why," said Dodd. "Just let me know he was taking [something] and that's when I called over an inspector to get it documented. But when you do take it you still have to show a medical reason. Whenever you're taking an enhancing drug you have to let the commission know prior to even taking the test that you're taking, and what the medical reasons are why you're taking the drug. That way we can verify with our commission doctors that the reason you're taking that is the reason you should be on that type of drug. You can't just come in and say, 'Hey, I'm taking this,' and think that's going to get you off."

Sonnen will be subject to a year-long mandated suspension and a $2,500 fine, though he has thirty days to file an appeal. It is unclear now what affect this news will have on Sonnen's immediate rematch with Silva, which has been heavily rumored for a UFC event to take place at the beginning of next year.

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Fighter rep: Chael Sonnen plans to appeal failed UFC 117 drug test

Chael Sonnen will appeal a one-year suspension and $2,500 fine issued by the California State Athletic Commission for a failed drug test in the wake of his submission loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117.

Mike Roberts, Sonnen's manager, today confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"There's not much else I can say at this point," Roberts said.

Roberts did, however, refer MMAjunkie.com to a statement issued to MMAFighting.com that further detailed the Sonnen camp's initial response to the CSAC ruling, which was delivered this past Friday after the 33-year-old middleweight tested positive for abnormally elevated levels of testosterone.  

"It is our policy not to comment on pending actions by the athletic commission," Roberts stated. "Chael is consulting with his legal [advisers] and physicians and will have a statement in the near future. Chael will file an appeal with the CSAC and looks forward to working with the commission to resolve this matter."

CSAC Executive Director George Dodd on Monday told MMAjunkie.com that Sonnen has 30 days from the day he received the notice to appeal his suspension and fine. Should he choose not to contest the ruling, he will be suspended until Sept. 2, 2011, and will face a $2,500 fine.

According to Dodd, Sonnen was flagged first on Sept. 2 after an initial test revealed the presence of a performance-enhancer. A second, more-rigorous test conducted at the UCLA's Olympic Analytical Laboratory confirmed the results. The laboratory is used by the U.S. Olympic Committee and is the world's largest World Anti-Doping Agency-certified facility.

Sonnen can have his appeal heard as early as Dec. 2, when the CSAC holds its next meeting in Sacramento, Calif. Dodd stressed that time is of the essence should a planned rematch between Sonnen and Silva take place next year during Super Bowl weekend.

"We always say you want to make [the appeal] at the next commission meeting (from the notice)," Dodd said. "The next [meeting] after that probably won't be until the following year, and from what I understand, he has a rematch with Anderson Silva possibly in February. He'll probably be maintaining the suspension unless he gets on the agenda next time."

Sonnen delivered a nearly note-perfect performance at UFC 117 and dominated Silva for four-plus rounds before falling prey to a Hail Mary triangle choke from the champion in the final moments of the fifth and final round. After much speculation as to both fighters' next move, Sonnen was earmarked for a rematch in early 2011.

The fighter has yet to break his silence since news of the suspension broke.

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