• UFC

Sonnen told of drug use before Anderson Silva fight

ESPN staff
September 21, 2010
Chael Sonnen is facing up to the prospect of a year's suspension © UFC
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California State Athletic Commission executive director George Dodd has revealed Chael Sonnen informed him he had been using a performance-enhancing drug prior to his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 117.

Sonnen caused a huge stir in the UFC when going within a whisker of inflicting a first defeat on the middleweight king, only to succumb to a triangle choke late in the fight. The gloss was taken off the performance when it later emerged that Sonnen had failed a drugs test.

It has since been claimed that Sonnen was battling a stomach bug in the week before the fight and although there has been no word this is the case, it would appear he may have been taking medication to combat the problem.

"He only indicated that he was taking it, but he never indicated why," Dodd told SI.com. "[Sonnen] just let me know he was taking [something] and that's when I called over an inspector to get it documented. But when you do take it you still have to show a medical reason.

"Whenever you're taking an enhancing drug, you have to let the commission know prior to even taking the test that you're taking, and what the medical reasons are why you're taking the drug. That way we can verify with our commission doctors that the reason you're taking that is the reason you should be on that type of drug. You can't just come in and say, 'Hey, I'm taking this,' and think that's going to get you off."

Sonnen is facing up to the prospect of a fine and suspension until September 2011.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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