Chael Sonnen Fails Drug Test; Will Not Fight Vitor Belfort

UFC.com

By Francisco Romero

During a random drug test performed late last month, Chael Sonnen, tested positive for two banned substances and will not fight Vitor Belfort at UFC 175, scheduled for July 5. 

Sonnen tested positive for Anastrozole and Clomifene. Those substances are used to treat men with hypogonadism, and fertility issues. Sonnen claims that he was not breaking the rules, that the substances have helped him and he is soon to be a father because of his treatment.

“This are perfectly legal substances, this are not performance enhancing drugs, this are not anabolics, this are not steroids of any kind,” he said during an interview with Fox Sports. “I took, under the care of a physician, a perfectly legal medication,” he added during the interview.

The Nevada Athletic Commission tested Sonnen and he is planning to appeal the decision.

Sonnen, 37, has a record of (28-14-1) was expected to fight Wanderlei Silva, but Silva refused to take a drug test and was scratch from the fight.

The fate of Sonnen’s future lies on the decision of the Nevada Athletic Commission. He plans to address the commission soon and explain his case.

He will argue that what he took, even if they are banned substances are not illegal, and were not taken on game-day as he addressed the issue during the Fox Sports interview, “It doesn’t matter if its the NCAA, the IOC or this commission, there has always been a distinction between game day and out of competition. And in out of competition, if you’re not on a steroid, that is acceptable,” he stated.

Vitor Belfort, 37, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will have to wait for the commission’s decision to find out if he will fight Sonnen. Belforts record stand at 24-10.