Chael Sonnen Retires from UFC After Failed Drug Test; 'I Admit Fault'

On June 11, Chael Sonnen announced that he will retire from professional mixed martial arts (MMA) after failing a drug test conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) just the day before.

He is the co-host of FOX Sports 1 and made the announcement on the show. For years, Sonnen was allowed to administer the substances anastrozole and clomiphene, which he needed after being diagnosed with hypogonadism, a condition which causes his body not to produce sufficient amounts of testosterone. The substances were first allowed then subsequently banned by the NSAC.

In a Yahoo! Sports report, Sonnen said on UFC Tonight, "I do admit fault. I want to make sure I take full responsibility." He added, "I want to stay within the rules, and I don't fully understand them, and I have to put my health first. I have to put my family first. There's going to be a day where I no longer have the title of fighter, but I don't ever want there to be a day where I don't have the ability to have the title as parent and father and husband, and my health has got to come first."

Sonnen was supposed to fight at UFC 175. The recent findings caused him to be suspended so he will no longer appear at the said event. He has a record of 28-14-1.

Sonnen initially defended himself for being found positive for the substances. He shared that there should have been an interim period after the NSAC suddenly decided to ban TRT in February 2014. He had an underlying condition which means that he could not simply quit using the substance cold turkey. Dana White, UFC president, also shared Sonnen's sentiments that it would be difficult for fighters to immediately stop using a substance that was previously allowed by the NSAC, according to MMA Fighting.

Dana White and the rest of MMA fans can put the issue to rest since Sonnen said that the choice was simple if he was supposed to make one between his health and career. In MMA Mania, one fighter, however, cannot easily let go of how the current events unfolded. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva stated that he still wanted to make a fight between him and Sonnen happen. He was disturbed by Sonnen's previous statements that he literally ran away from approaching NSAC officials when he was supposed to have a random drug test.

Silva posted on Twitter using his account @wandfc, "How run? Retired? After say all this shits about me, we need make this fight @sonnench".