Sonnen wasn't trying to cheat though.
He's appealing it and hopefully it goes well for him. I think people automatically see "Sonnen fails drug test" and think he's a cheat or some moron. That's not the case and people need to read up the details of it to understand what's actually gone on.
Chael Sonnen's excuse for UFC 175 failed drug test is lame, career-threatening
(Excerpts) Sonnen tested positive for two banned substances, Anastrozole and Clomiphene. Both are on the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2014
prohibited list, for in-competition and out-of-competition use.
On the Fox Sports 1 interview, Sonnen attempted several times to say the drugs are legal for use out-of-competition. However, on WADA's site, it says in all bold face capital letters, "SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES (IN- AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION)". Below that is a list of substances, of which both Anastrozole and Clomiphene are included.
Travis Tygart, the CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said there is no ambiguity. Neither Anastrozole or Clomephine are permitted at any time.
"Both of those are prohibited in- and out-of-competition," Tygart told Yahoo Sports.
"The reason why is because they can maximize the effects of testosterone use or other anabolic steroids use, as well as in and of themselves providing a performance-enhancing benefit."
Later, WADA has sections that list substances that are banned in-competition but which are permitted out-of-competition.
"Yes they can [test me 24-7-365]," Sonnen told Hill regarding the Nevada commission's right to test him. "But there is a distinction drawn. It doesn't matter if you're talking NCAA Division I, the IOC or this commission. There has always been a distinction between game day and out of competition. And when you're out of competition, if you're not on anabolic; if you're not on illegal substances; if you're not a steroid or a performance enhancer of any kind, that is acceptable."
He's wrong and the WADA rules clearly denote that. But here is the problem Sonnen faces: Even if the drugs are permitted out-of-competition, Sonnen was in-competition when he tested positive.
He was licensed to fight at UFC 175 on May 13. On May 23, he was given an unannounced, random test by the Nevada commission, which it had the perfect right to do since he is licensed and since he had a fight coming up.
Sonnen may try to argue that he took the drugs
prior to being licensed, and that may be. But there is no gray area, as Sonnen said there is, in the rules.
It is the burden of the licensed athlete to provide a clean test whenever tested by the commission, whether or not there is a fight.
Sonnen, though, was licensed AND was tested on May 23 shortly after his news conference at the MGM Grand Garden to announce the main card of UFC 175.
The rest of his comments were nothing more than red herrings that were used in an attempt to obfuscate the real issue.
It's entirely understandable why Sonnen would want to be able to father a child with his wife. But if he planned to do that given his medical situation, he should have held off on applying for the license until qualified medical personnel told him he was clear.
He did not wait and
made the laughable excuse that there was no way to find out the rules. Both Nevada's rules and WADA's rules are easily accessible online; further, the commission has repeatedly
told athletes to call if they ever have any doubt whether a substance they want to take is legal according to its rules.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chael-...st-is-lame--career-threatening-004541484.html