Brock Lesnar to go on two-year ban

 

Brock Lesnar faces a two-year ban from the UFC after failing a second drug test

It has been revealed that UFC fighter Brock Lesnar has been cited for a second failure of the United States Anti-Doping Agency [Usada] programme. Lesnar was tested eight times in total in the month leading up to UFC 200, where he defeated Australia’s Mark Hunt. He passed the first five tests but has now been cited for his second failure of the final three with one test still pending.

His second citing comes from an in-competition drug test at UFC 200, having also been cited last Friday for an out-of-competition drug test that took place on June 28th.

It has also been confirmed that Lesnar failed both tests for the same banned substance, though Usada will not be revealing the name of the drug unless Lesnar reveals it publically first.

As the test failures have come within such quick success of one another, they will be punished as a single violation. This could spell even worse news for Lesnar given that the UFC's anti-doping policy states that two positive tests could be considered aggravating circumstances, which could ultimately mean that further sanctioning and punishment are given out.

Should the test results be upheld, which they almost certainly will, Lesnar will likely face a minimum of a two-year ban from the UFC. In addition to Usada, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) will also have jurisdiction in both cases so it is likely that Lesnar will be punished by both bodies.

 

Lesnar's only comment to the media since his first test failure was to the Associated Press in a statement last week in which he stated: "We will get to the bottom of this." No further comment has yet been made by the Lesnar camp on this second failure.

Notifications of Lesnar's failed tests come after his win at UFC 200 where he defeated Hunt by unanimous decision on July 9th. 

The UFC waived a rule in its anti-doping policy that states a retired fighter must notify Usada four months out of a comeback fight to be placed in the testing pool. The result of the fight with Hunt will be one of the matters addressed at the Nevada Athletic Commission disciplinary hearing later this year. Since hearing about Lesnar's first failed test, Hunt has demanded that he be given Lesnar’s full fee for his UFC 200 appearance.