Possible good news for Brock Lesnar regarding UFC suspension
Brock Lesnar faced Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in a successful effort, winning by unanimous decision. At the time, his stock value was extremely high, and he was on top of the mountain, but the rug was pulled from underneath when it was revealed that Lesnar had failed the USADA drug test.
Lesnar was issued a temporary suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday due to his pair of UFC 200 failed USADA drug tests. Lesnar tested positive for Clomiphene in both failures, which is an estrogen blocker often used to stimulate natural testosterone production, and its metabolite, hydroxy-clomiphene.
Lesnar received a two-year suspension from MMA competition due to the violations.
MMAFighting.com reports that Lesnar and Jon Jones, who failed for the same substances as Lesnar, are only subject to a maximum suspension of one-year because the banned substances are considered "specified substances" under the World Anti-Doping Agency Code:
Per the WADA Code, "there is a greater likelihood that these (specified) substances could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation." When it comes to specified substances, the WADA Code recognizes that it is possible for a prohibited substance to enter an athlete's body inadvertently, "and therefore allow a tribunal more flexibility when making a sanctioning decision."
Lesnar's suspension is temporary, pending a formal hearing at a future date which has yet to be formally announced, and has not likely been determined. Lesnar could face other fines and suspensions from the Nevada Athletic Commission, as well as have his victory over Hunt being overturned.
His UFC 200 opponent Mark Hunt has been very vocal about his anger at not just Lesnar, but the whole system of testing in general, and UFC’s way of handling it, especially towards bigger draw fighters.
He stated that he is happy that he lost the fight, because otherwise, there wouldn’t be as much action taken or attention given to it as there should be.
In a recent interview at the WWE 2K17 VIP launch party with TMZ, Lesnar stated that he is still optimistic about stepping back into the octagon, and that he is also grateful to the fans for their support, and that he will get through the bumpy road that he is currently on.
Right now, Lesnar’s clear focus is on WWE. Do you believe we will see Lesnar back in the Octagon someday?