‘Ashamed’ Chael Sonnen Suspended 2 Years For Failed Drug Tests; Not Expected To Fight Again

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While the Nevada Athletic Commission had good news for Vitor Belfort on Wednesday, the news wasn’t as good for Chael Sonnen.

The middleweight fighter was handed a two-year suspension from mixed martial arts and was ordered to pay any and all doctors’ fees for the random drug tests he failed on May 24th and June 5th. He was also ordered to work with the NAC to educate other fighters about drug testing

“I don’t want to say anything to you that comes off as an excuse,” said Sonnen, who aside from the testing costs did not receive any additional monetary penalties. “I am guilty. I am ashamed, and I don’t have any attempt to put up a defense.”

Sonnen tested positive for the banned substances anastrozole and clomiphene on May 24th in a random drug test in Las Vegas ahead of his planned UFC 175 fight against Wanderlei Silva. Sonnen retired from the sport following the test.

Sonnen subsequently failed a second random drug test taken on June 5th in Portland, Oregon, testing positive for human growth hormone (HGH), recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which led to Sonnen being terminated from his role as an analyst on FOX.

Appearing at the NAC meeting on Wednesday, Sonnen was apologetic and did not seem to want to launch any kind of appeal.