Despite vowing to get to the bottom of the issue after being flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation it seems that things are getting worse for Brock Lesnar.
The UFC released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying that they have been informed by USADA that Lesnar has failed his in-competition test taken on the night of UFC 200 for the same substance that caused the previous flagging.
Lance Pugmire of the LA Times tweeted that an official with knowledge of the situation told him that the substance that caused the failure is clomiphene, which also caused Jon Jones’ test failure. Estrogen blockers like clomiphene are commonly used when cycling off of steroids.
The statement from the UFC says:
“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Brock Lesnar that his in-competition sample collection from July 9, 2016, at UFC 200, has tested positive for the same substance as his previously announced out-of-competition collection on June 28, 2016.
“USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note that, under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. The Nevada State Athletic Commission also retains jurisdiction over this matter as the sample collection was performed at UFC 200 in Las Vegas.
“Consistent with all previous potential anti-doping violations, additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.”
A possible two-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs could have ended Lesnar’s mixed martial arts career right as it began again anyway, but another failure is likely to increase pressure on WWE to further respond to the situation.
And it again calls into question whether Lesnar is being tested under their policy. The WWE drug testing policy says “all WWE Talent under contract to WWE who regularly perform in-ring service” are subject to testing, but it does not define what constitutes regular performance.
The WWE drug testing policy explicitly bans anti-estrogen substances:
“The non-medical use of drugs belonging to this class, including, but not limited to, anastrozole, letrozole, aminooglutethimide exemestane, formestane, testolactone, raloxifene, tamoxifen, toremifene, clomiphene, cyclofenil and fulvestrant, are prohibited.”
As the UFC’s statement notes, Lesnar is entitled to a review process and it is entirely possible he has legitimately passed all WWE tests if he is being tested.