Chael Sonnen Fails Drug Test - Off UFC 175

In another unbelievable UFC 175 twist, Chael Sonnen is off the card due to a positive drug test. Big news has just broke from ESPN as they have reported that the UFC's Chael Sonnen has failed a drug test, something the NSAC has also confirmed. This is an unbelievable twist in the history of the match and the event, as Sonnen was originally due to face Wanderlei Silva, who was dropped from the card when he dodged an NSAC surprise drug test. Silva was replaced by Vitor Belfort, who then revealed that he had failed a drug test of his own this past February, and would have to go before the NSAC later this month to plead his case for a fight license. Sonnen, meanwhile, had publicly stated earlier this year that he had found a replacement for TRT, the controversial testosterone replacement therapy he had openly admitted to using due to what he said was a diagnosis of hypogonadism. TRT was banned at the end of February, and all fighters using it would have had to come off it to continue competing. The last legal TRT user, Dan Henderson, fought against Dan Cormier back at UFC 173; Sonnen and Belfort, another TRT user, were to have been the next two big names to compete. With Sonnen off the UFC 175 card, there's no word as to whether Belfort will still fight, but it's ironic that Belfort was the one originally facing drug troubles. Honestly, Sonnen, who has gone from being the self-proclaimed "bad guy" to a popular UFC figure, has been in this spot before, having not properly disclosed his TRT use after his first fight against Anderson Silva in 2010. That time, he was suspended. In an interview this afternoon with Jay Mohr Sports on Fox Sports radio, Sonnen addressed the news and admitted taking the drugs in question, Anastrozole and Clomiphene. Neither are performance enhancing drugs, but they are banned substances. Sonnen stated the drugs were necessary to level out his testosterone following the TRT ban. The fighter, who is also a host of UFC Tonight on FOX and has a lucrative broadcasting career lined up, will likely face some sort of disciplinary action.
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Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.