CSAC Says Sonnen Tested Positive for PEDs

Just like that, Chael Sonnen’s February 6th rematch against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva may disappear into thin air.

California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd says that Sonnen has been notified that he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug after his gutsy fight against Silva at UFC 117, according to a report on Sherdog.com. The particular performance-enhancing drug in question has not been specified by Dodd as of yet, however.

Still, since a previous scan for drugs of abuse was clean for all fighters involved, it’s clear that what Sonnen tested positive for must have been a drug of the performance-enhancing variety, rather than something of a more recreational purpose. Since Sherdog’s Greg Savage broke the story, Sonnen has not yet acknowledged or commented on the report. Of the individuals involved, just Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, has had something to say at this early stage.

“If it’s true, I feel really bad for him. I know he did it to himself but it is really sad, he put on such a great performance that night. It is just a shame it will be tarnished,” Soares said.

Now, Sonnen’s reaction is to be determined yet, and given his recent history, is as unpredictable as can be. This is the same guy who ridiculed Lance Armstrong and said he gave himself cancer on a radio show, then turned around and denied making the comments or even having appeared on the show, which he has been a guest on several times.

The thing is, whether he denies it or not, we have learned in the past that a suspension is virtually guaranteed for Sonnen. Sean Sherk denies to this day having willingly ingested any banned substance leading up to his lightweight title defense against Hermes Franca years ago, but still ended up having to serve a suspension- although it was shortened from one year to six months. Sherk tested positive in California, just like Sonnen, by the way.

Even a six-month suspension would put the Silva fight in jeopardy. Technically, Sonnen would be able to train and prepare, and depending on when the suspension is deemed to have begun, as well as how long the suspension is, he may be ready to fight early in 2011. However, you never know whether Dana White would even allow Sonnen to have the immediate rematch that he was going to get if there are now questions about whether Sonnen’s performance was genuine.

It’s a definite mess in the making for Sonnen, who I really thought was looking at becoming a joke of sorts if Silva had managed to mop the floor with him in their fight. After all, if you are going to elevate trash talk to the level that Sonnen did, you have to back it up if you want anyone to take you even partially seriously again. Sonnen’s great performance against Silva earned him the right to talk all he wants and to sit on the cusp of stardom in the UFC, but a positive test for PEDs just makes him, well…a joke.

How could even Chael Sonnen ridicule Lance Armstrong for supposedly using PEDs and “giving himself cancer” if he was using PEDs himself? How could even Sonnen stand in front of a group of fans again at one of the UFC Fight Club Q&As and spout off his normally-entertaining brand of trash talk in the light of such a revelation? I realize that Sonnen is more than willing to leave the realm of reality to put out some good sound bytes (his recent comments about slapping Brock Lesnar in the face come to mind), but can even he show his face again and talk that kind of crap after all of this?

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Tags: Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, Ed Soares, performance enhancing drugs, Sean Sherk, UFC