The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is moving forward with its actions against retired UFC fighter Chael Sonnen. According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, the UFC’s home governing body is waiting to find out if the former light heavyweight and middleweight contender will appeal its ruling.
The NSAC sent Sonnen its complaint on June 27. Per the commission’s regulations, Sonnen has up to 20 days (which, in this case, would be up until July 17) to respond. From there, he would either accept whatever punishment it decides upon (which includes up to a $250,000 fine, the suspension of his license and extensive drug testing ahead of his relicensure, should he ever decide to return to mixed martial arts in the United States) or appeal the ruling and appear before the commission later this year.
You can check out a redacted version of the full complaint here (h/t MMAJunkie.com). Worth noting is that the documents include email correspondences between Sonnen and the NSAC, where he admits to using anastrozole, clomiphene and hCG.
For those who somehow missed it, Sonnen failed two drug tests in as many weeks ahead of his previously scheduled bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 175. On June 10, it was revealed he had failed a NSAC drug test after his sample was flagged for anastrozole and clomiphene as well as his admission to also using hCG. The drugs are banned out of competition due to their usefulness in restarting the body’s ability to produce testosterone after steroid use.
While some fans and media were willing to look the other way on this due to Sonnen‘s known use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which was effectively doctor-approved steroid use, it was announced by MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on June 28 that Sonnen failed a second test for four banned substances, including human growth hormone and human erythropoietin.
In the time since, Sonnen lost his position as a Fox Sports analyst and has been laying low. He is yet to make an official statement on his failed drug test. According to guerrilla reporter, friend of Sonnen and Twitter personality FrontRowBrian, he will make a statement July 23:
“@FataL_Tito: @FrontRowBrian is the rumor true that Chael apologized to Dana?” Chael will speak on July 23rd. Only thing I can guarantee.
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) July 6, 2014
Sonnen retired on June 11, shortly after his first failed drug test but before the second came to light. In spite of that, he phoned in to a NSAC hearing regarding his forthcoming suspension on June 18. Depending on how he handles this complaint from the NSAC, it is possible we may see Sonnen posturing for a return to MMA in 2015.
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