Chael Sonnen har tidigare berättat att han inte har några planer att återvända till professionell MMA efter att han fick två års avstängning under 2014, då han testade positivt för EPO och HCG. Han har sedan dess jobbat som MMA-analytiker för ESPN och FOX men överväger nu en retur, med förutsättningen att han klarar dopningstesterna som utförs av USADA.
UFC började under förra året samarbeta med USADA för att få bukt med dopningen inom organisationen och har därefter infört stränga kontroller.
Sonnen kan dock tänka sig en comeback, förutsatt att han klarar av kontrollerna.
Det här berättade Sonnen via MMAFighting:
I definitely have that itch. I fantasize about it. But it’s one step at a time. I’m not holding back from you. I’m not acting like my return is some kind of breaking news. I’d tell it to you right now. But I have to pass this first test, quite frankly. It’s still out there. I’ve gotta pass it. If I pass that, I’ll pass all of them. But I have to know that everything is out. Boom, step one down.
Step two, get in shape, get ready to go — I’m there. I’m in shape, I’m ready to go. Step three, be the baddest dude in the world. C’mon, Ariel. C’mon, buddy. I dominated — this is just a fact. I dominated middleweight. There has never been a middleweight like me. The next closest guy is Anderson Silva. I’ve got two 10-8 rounds against Anderson Silva. That’s just the truth. I have no equal at middleweight.
I don’t want to be tested like everybody else. I want it to be on a curve. I’d like a curved system. Oh, you had seven things last time, this time you’ve only got three. That’s pretty good. That’s the kind of test I’m looking for. And I’m not sure that’s out there.
I took a bunch of stuff that you can’t take and I want to make sure [it’s out]. I thought that made sense. Like yeah, I don’t want to jump in this thing if it’s just all gonna blow up in my face. [USADA] laughed like what I was saying was crazy. No, that’s exactly what happened.
That’s where it gets tough. In the testosterone days when we were allowed to take testosterone, that made really good sense. Now, of course that got murky and guys took advantage of it and it completely backfired. But it made good sense, because the world of sport right now belongs to 18- to 25-year-olds. Science has stepped in and goes not so fast, we can actually continue to give you what your body gave you naturally at a later time. So you’re seeing guys that are able to extend their careers. That’s a pretty cool. Guys started to manipulate that and they had to do away with it.
I’d sure like to have that option. That’s the whole point is to have that option. I believe that I’m done with MMA and that’s just candidly. But I don’t have that option. I am done. I am done unless you can get a license. It’s like anything else. You’ve gotta be approved to do it. So, I would like to have the ability to choose.
Sonnen mötte senast Rashad Evans under UFC 167 då han förlorade via TKO i första ronden. Han står nu med 28 vinster och 14 förluster.
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