Chael Sonnen Tests Positive For PEDs Following UFC 117

[Turd Ferguson]

GODDAMMIT! FUCK! SHIT!

According to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd, Chael Sonnen has been notified that he failed post-fight drug screening following his loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, which was held Aug. 7 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.

“[Sonnen] received his notice yesterday,” Dodd told Sherdog.com shortly after the Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora boxing match ended Saturday night in Los Angeles.

In a conversation the day before, Dodd declined to comment on the situation, other than answering that all fighters from UFC 117 had passed drugs-of-abuse scans, but that the commission was still waiting on performance-enhancing drug screens from the event.

Dodd did not state which banned substance was red-flagged, but with a clean drugs-of-abuse scan it is clear the positive test was for a performance-enhancing substance.

The last major UFC banned-substance case in the state centered on UFC 73’s lightweight title match, which saw both competitors -- Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca -- test positive for PEDs. Both fighters were suspended for one year and fined, though Sherk appealed and had his suspension shortened to six months.

Sonnen is staring at a long layoff if he elects not to appeal or is denied. He was scheduled to rematch Silva Feb. 6 in Las Vegas, but that fight may be delayed or scrapped in light of these allegations.

Text messages to Sonnen went unreturned.

His manager Matt Lindland told Sherdog.com that he was cornering a fighter on the East Coast and had no knowledge of the positive test results.

Silva’s manager Ed Soares, who engaged in some heated exchanges via the media in the build up to the fight, was stunned when asked for his reaction.

“If it’s true, I feel really bad for him,” said Soares. “I know he did it to himself but it is really sad, he put on such a great performance that night. It is just a shame it will be tarnished.”

Well guys, I don't think Sonnen's going to be getting a rematch any time soon with these allegations. He's probably going to get suspended, and the UFC will probably put him on the back burner now, because we all know how Dana looks unfavorably at fighters who use performance enhancing drugs. The Belfort vs. Okami fight in a couple of months will most likely now be a number one contendership fight.

I'm really pissed off, as you all know how much of a mark I have been for Sonnen for pretty much the entire year since the Nate Marquardt fight. How he built up the Silva fight was amazing, and his performance backed up all the stuff he talked leading up to the fight in what was an absolute fight of the year contender.

I really hope that Sonnen at least took the PEDs unknowingly, but that's pretty doubtful. I'm hoping it was a diuretic, or maybe it was a medicine that showed up as a banned substance as he had the flu a couple weeks before the fight. Don't forget that legal supplements can still contain ingredients that can be red flagged as well in a drug test.

Still though, FUCK. We'll have to see how this plays out.

 

[Via Armbar]

I still believe in Sonnen(R)

Unfortunately, the (R) may stand for roids. This really is a bad situation for everyone involved. The UFC is going to miss out on a HUGE rematch for a very big show and one of the men that has become a real character for fans is going to be out for a period of time. Even if it turns out he took them unknowingly I doubt he will get off without at least a six month suspension. Sherk had fought the accusations and only got his suspension shortened. Like Guy said, there can have been something he took while he had the flu before the fight but that still isn't going to change the fact that he failed the test.

The best that Sonnen fans, and honestly fight fans in general, can hope for in this situation is that Chael comes out with his career in tact. With a suspension served regardless, there might be more to the story then we think and the situation can be different then it looks. Hopefully it's something that won't tarnish his career and it turns out to be just an unfortunate circumstance.

Where does this leave the number one contender spot? I'll assume that Okami/Belfort will now become a number one contenders fight, which is the most logical step. I still have Okami edging Belfort in a decision win so we can be looking at Silva/Okami by maybe March. If Sonnen does get suspended, hopefully it will be a short six month lay off. Even upon his return though, I see them giving him a tough fight to earn a new title show before he gets Silva or Okami.

 

[jmt225]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, oh man how I wish I felt about Sonnen right now the way I did before the first Anderson Silva fight. But he earned my respect in that fight, and everything he said past that, instead of getting under my skin like before, I came to appreciate and actually enjoy it.

This is such a shame. Not only will this ruin the rematch, but it puts Sonnen under scrutiny. This is something he's going to have to live with for the rest of his career. He absolutely won't hear the end of it. Bonnar and Leben and guys like that get a pass since they're not superstars, and since they're universally loved to begin with, whereas Sonnen was becoming one of the biggest names in the sport, and he's hated by a lot of fans.

However, on the bright side, and yes... there is one little bright side to this, and that is I think the general public seeing the UFC punish a high caliber fighter for steroids will give the company and sport some integrity. I think there are critics out there who think the UFC may protect certain fighters like they believe WWE does certain wrestlers; however, this will undoubtedly show those people that yes... the UFC and MMA test for steroids and if you're caught, you're in trouble.

Now, as far as Sonnen... I hope and believe he can rebound from this. He's just so damn entertaining. That Q&A he did in Austin last week was fucking spectacular. Who doesn't want to watch a guy like that?

Moreover, at least this sets up a Sonnen vs. Bisping fight next, whether Bisping wins or loses against Sexyama. Bisping is the one person who the UFC can match Sonnen up against and the fans will instantly forgive him for "cheating." Secondly, it will be just a joy to watch Sonnen smash Bisping's face in.

So, all in all, while this does very much indeed suck, it's not the end of the World. Some good things can come out of it, and as long as Sonnen passes his drug tests and continues to win fights, there's no doubt he'll be right back in the title picture in no time. And quite frankly... there aren't many in the UFC MW Division who I believe can beat Sonnen, if any not named Anderson Silva.

 

[Fizzy]

Ha ha ha ha ha. If this was Sherdog that would have been my entire post, but it isn't so I have to not spam. No idea what the drugs are, and as much as I dislike Sonnen I won't speculate, but this could prove to be very bad, or very good. The bad part is he will get shit for the rest of his career if this is HGH or roids which would obviously put everything he does in the rest of his career in question. This could also be good because maybe it will give Sonnen a wake up call to stop using this banned substance. I mean I really dislike Sonnen, and unlike the rest of you think he is absolutely unfunny, and annoying, but I still wish to see him fight again because with all of the absolutely ridiculous shit he talks he still backs it up even though losing. We'll just have to see how it plays out.

 

[Buffalo Dave]

Such a major blow! There goes one of the most anticipated rematches of all time, at least for a while. Damn crooked politicians!! Just imagine the uproar if he would've held on for those last couple minutes and won and became the first person to beat Silva.

Hopefully it is something he can appeal, and is just a misunderstanding. Thats the last thing I wanna here from all the Sonnen haters, that he needed PED's to try and beat Silva.

I do like JMT's idea with him fighting Bisping now, makes sense unless he wins an appeal then the Silva fight would go as planned.

It is still very early in this story, I'm sure more will follow in the coming weeks and clear up some of this. For now Anderson dodges a bullet.

 

[INDYjon22]

Yeah, this sucks for the UFC. There was already a lot of hype about the rematch coming directly from how the first fight went. I can't claim that I am a huge Chael Sonnen fan, but I do enjoy him for the most part. But, man this sucks. Hopefully he just serves his suspension and comes back better then ever, I like the Bisping fight a lot. It would have a good amount of hype around it because of the trash talk between the two already and Sonnen's return. However, if he can get the appeal then he should certainly fight Anderson as planned.

 

[Tha Wolfpac]

Shit, Fuck, Titty!

I don't think there was not one fight fan in the world not looking so forward to this. Majorly diasappointing, this fight sold it self, the entertaining man who talks shit but backs it up versuses the long legged undefeated brazilian (in the ufc that is). Seriously i dont even know what to type, but it is still an early story in an epic saga. But hey the talent pool in the MW division is larger than ever, there is a range of guys who could be next top contenders. OKami vs Vitor Belfort will probably be for a title shot or as Thiago Alves would say "Shitle Tot".
If Sonnen gets suspended which is most likely i think a fight against a returning Axe Murderer would be a good matchup other than the match-up jmt stated.

 

[Final Form Snyper.]

Stuff him, if he test positive then I guess this makes him a drug cheat. I hope he is hung out to dry on this if this is the case. Those like Barnett and Shamrock made the sport look like a disgrace for cheating or in Barnett's case trying to cheat but getting caught with dirty piss.

This is a blight on a sport that is still young and trying to achieve mainstream support and recognition. Now it can be said that Boxer's, Olympians. etc all cheat and that certain sport goes on but in this case MMA is hounded daily by critics still thinking it is a freak show and these drug cheats are giving these vultures more ammunition each and every time.

 

[The Crock]

This isn't just a huge blow to Chael Sonnen, but to the UFC as well. That fight was a great fight and undoubtedly got them some new fans. How do you think those new fans will be reacting? They might even lose some fans. Sonnen really let down his sport and even though I'm a huge Sonnen fan, I think he deserves a huge punishment.

Looking back at the fight with this new information, I can somewhat "tell" he used steroids. He looked faster and stronger than ever before and he had a beat on Silva the entire time. It's a real disappointment in my eyes that he was willing to use PEDs to get ahead. I doubt Silva - Sonnen II will ever happen.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

Sonnen told the CSAC that he was going to fail the test prior to the fight.

Sonnen, 33, of West Linn, Ore., was apparently concerned enough about the possibility that he would render a positive test that he told CSAC executive director George Dodd he used an illegal substance leading up to the biggest fight of his life.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/mma/09/20/sonnen.drugtest/index.html

Personally, I was waiting for Sonnen to say something like "I didn't take that test, it was some guy with a Spanish penis."

Sonnen has also filed an appeal with the CSAC and has said he will be issuing a statement.

"It is our policy not to comment on pending actions by the Athletic Commission. Chael is consulting with his legal advisors 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."

http://www.mmamania.com/2010/9/21/1702097/chael-sonnen-to-appeal-failed

 

[jmt225]

The California State Athletic Commission suspended UFC middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen for 1 year yesterday after revealing he tested positive for steroids following a loss to Anderson Silva last month in Oakland.

CSAC executive officer George Dodd said Sonnen's drug test revealed an abnormally high testosterone-to-estrogen level, an indicator of steroid use. A second test showed similar results.

The suspension casts a pall on memories of perhaps the UFC's most exciting fight of the year. Sonnen, an underdog, controlled the first four rounds of his fight against Silva, but lost to the long-reigning middleweight champion in the fifth round.

Wow... an entire year? That's pretty harsh, but I fully expect an appeal from Sonnen and if he's telling the truth about letting the commission know he was going to test positive and yet they let him fight anyway, then he should win. And I personally hope he does, because it would be a shame to see him have to take an entire year off.

Also, I think he's only getting this harsh of a punishment because of his personality. I mean, has anyone ever gotten a punishment like this before? Chris Leben didn't. Neither did Stephan Bonnar, Sean Sherk, Tim Sylvia, or anybody else. Why is Chael getting a year suspension, and these guys only got a few months? It makes no sense. There's something real fishy about all this, ESPECIALLY if Sonnen is telling the truth.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

This is standard, JMT. He's not receiving anything worse than anyone else. 1 year is the norm. It's like the drunk tank, you can't get bailed out, but you know you're only in there for a night.

Sonnen has already appealed and they will listen to his reasons and reduce the punishment from there. He won't be out a year....