Chael Sonnen joked about steroids and his steroid-related suspension while answering questions by UFC Fight Club members who were in Philadelphia for UFC 133. Sonnen tested positive for anabolic steroids (testosterone) at UFC 117. Sonnen was originally suspended for one year. However, Sonnen appealed to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last year claiming that he used testosterone as part of a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) program prescribed by his physician. The CSAC accepted Sonnen’s HRT defense but did not entirely exonerate him because he failed to follow the proper protocol for notifying the CSAC of his medical condition (hypogonadism).
UFC Fight Club members repeatedly asked Sonnen about steroids. First, they asked him what he thought of mixed martial artists who use anabolic steroids. Sonnen remained on the fence. “There’s two things you can do,” replied Sonnen. “If somebody does steroids, you can kick him out and throw him away forever. Or, you can just open up an all-steroid league and let the games begin.” Sonnen did not tell fans which league he would prefer to participate.
“My phone rings, they call me up and say, ‘Chael, your testosterone level is too high.’ I say, ‘Well, how high was it?’ They say, ‘0.7.’ I said, ‘What’s normal?’ They say, ‘0.6.’ I said, ‘One-tenth? You’re telling me I’m one-tenth higher than the average man? Re-test that – you must have caught me on a low day.'”
Sonnen’s urinalysis returned a testosterone:epitestosterone ratio of 16.9 which exceeds the 4.0 threshold allowed by the California commission. It is unclear what numbers Sonnen was referring to.
“I told them to feast their eyes and fantasize – I offer no apology. That’s testosterone, ladies and gentleman. And on top of that, what do you mean, higher than the norm? Who are you comparing me to? The pink t-shirt wearing earring guy I just fought?
“They said, ‘Well, Mr. Sonnen, what are you telling us?’ I said, ‘Isn’t it obvious what I’m telling you? Chael Sonnen is too goddamn macho for the standardized testing procedures of the California State Control Board.”
Sonnen made no mention of his testosterone replacement therapy when trying to explain his “macho-ness”. Sonnen had previously testified that his doctor, Mark Czarnecki, prescribed twice-weekly, self-administered, intrausucular injections of testosterone cypionate as a treatment for hypogonadism.
Photo credit: Bad intentionz – Wikimedia Commons
Source:
Marrocco, S. (August 5, 2011). Unapologetic Chael Sonnen unleashes latest rants on PED accusations. Retrieved from http://mmajunkie.com/news/24701/unapologetic-chael-sonnen-unleashes-latest-rants-on-ped-accusations.mma
