Chael Sonnen tested positive for PED's

[HILLBILLY]

TweetSonnen admitted that he had used an illegal performance enhancer prior to the middleweight championship.

Chael Sonnen tested positive for abnormally high levels of testosterone in his UFC 117 drug screening, California state athletic commission executive director George Dodd told media outlets on Monday afternoon, finally naming the substance that could subject Sonnen to a one-year suspension as well as a fine.

According to Dodd, who spoke to SI.com, Sonnen admitted to him during testing that he had used an illegal performance enhancer prior to the middleweight championship bout against Anderson Silva. Dodd did not name the specific drug Sonnen allegedly admitted to using.

The CSAC has yet to formally release an official statement on the matter, and neither Dodd nor Sonnen responded to attempts for comment by MMA Fighting.

Sonnen, a longshot underdog in the fight, squared off with longtime reigning champion Silva and surprisingly dominated him for more than four rounds before falling into a stunning, fight-ending triangle submission in the fifth. For his efforts, he had been scheduled to receive an immediate rematch. Now the CSAC suspension is likely to cost him another chance at the belt.

The 33-year-old Oregonian earned his title opportunity with three straight wins, besting Dan Miller, Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt in succession, making him a somewhat unlikely challenger to Silva.

In the months between the time the fight was announced and it actually took place, Sonnen (24-11-1) hyped the fight incessantly, building it into a must-see attraction.

Sonnen also ran for political office during the stretch as well, handily winning a Republican primary for a state representative seat in House District 37, though he later withdrew from the general election race.

The usually outspoken star has been mum in the time since the positive test was first reported, and has yet to make any statement. Sonnen reportedly received formal notice of his test failure last Friday and has 30 days in which to file appeal.

CSAC drug testing was handled by the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, the world's largest World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited sports drug-testing facility that has also handled anti-doping for the U.S. Olympic committee since 1985.

The actual SI.com article has a lot of interesting quotes from Dodd:

"He only indicated that he was taking it but he never indicated why," Dodd said of a conversation he and Sonnen shared during drug testing conducted by the state a day prior to the fight.

Sonnen "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."

"Though Sonnen mentioned using an illegal substance, the veteran mixed martial artist failed to note it on a pre-fight questionnaire with commission doctors or provide documentation about the use of testosterone in a medical context, according to Dodd.

"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," Dodd said. "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."

-HB-

[niko]

TweetLMFAO! That was beautiful busted hahahaha. Im shocked an athlete uses PED's. I bet the spider is loving this!

[HILLBILLY]

Tweet

LMFAO! That was beautiful busted hahahaha. Im shocked an athlete uses PED's. I bet the spider is loving this!

-HB-

[apbt549]

Tweetdoesn't matter much to me...he still beat his ass for 4.5 rounds....

[DaPit26]

Tweet

doesn't matter much to me...he still beat his ass for 4.5 rounds....

yeah, i completely agree. I haven't seen a piss pounding that bad, i don't think ever. It was like when tito had forrest on the ground for an entire rd, just pounding him (in tito vs Griffin 1), except this one lasted 24 minutes! i was pissed, chael took it to him

[apbt549]

Tweetchamps are born not made.... i think ped's didn't have that big of effect i think it was more him then the ped's

[guns01]

Tweetagreed apbt. just like damn near everyone else here i dont hit 100mph fast balls into the upper deck nor can i run 4.0 40s and i have been at this game for years. no amount of enhancement will replace natural abilities

[FUZO]

Tweetgear had nothing to do with sonnen kicking silvas ass imo

[guns01]

Tweetbingo. thats exactly what i am talking about.

[Warmachine]

TweetI'm interested in seeing how the UFC handles this. Tim Credeur told officials prior to his first fight in the UFC that he had been taking Adderol without a prescription. They cancelled his fight due to this, but gave no suspension and scheduled a rematch four monthes later. IMO taking Adderol prior to a fight would enhance performance more than a Testosterone booster or even AABs.