On Thursday, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) suspended former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar for one year, following multiple failed drug tests for his UFC 200 fight vs. Mark Hunt. In addition, Lesnar has also been fined $250,000 and his win over Hunt has been overturned to a no contest.
Shortly after UFC 200, it was revealed that Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) had failed an out-of-competition USADA test administered prior to the event. USADA later confirmed that he failed his in-competition test. In both samples, Lesnar tested positive for estrogen blockers clomiphene and hydroxy-clomiphene, the same substances found in Jon Jones’ failed UFC 200 pre-fight drug test.
Lesnar’s $250,000 fine represents 10% of his $2,500,000 purse. Mark Hunt was livid with Brock’s drug test failure, going as far as to demand all of Lesnar’s fight purse, and he’s also threatened to leave the UFC.
It should be noted that USADA has not issued their own punishment on Lesnar, although the one-year ban he received from the NAC is consistent with what Jon Jones was given by both USADA and the NAC. If that same pattern holds here, Lesnar will be eligible to return to UFC competition on July 9th, 2017. Of course, he’s under contract with the WWE, and the Hunt fight was supposed to be a one-off appearance, following his 2011 retirement.
About the author
