Chael Sonnen appears close to UFC comeback
Chael Sonnen is retired, but that may change very soon.
The former three-time UFC title contender has been re-entered into the drug testing pool with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with the possibility that he may return to action.
Sonnen has already been tested twice under the UFC's drug testing policy, which is enforced by USADA. Fighters who are retired are required to undergo four months of drug testing before any potential bout in the UFC.
"He asked to be enrolled in the registered testing pool as he is contemplating a return to competition," UFC officials told FOX Sports about Sonnen on Tuesday.
Sonnen just recently completed a two-year suspension handed down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for several banned substances ahead of his previously scheduled fight with Wanderlei Silva in 2014.
Once the suspension was lifted, Sonnen apparently informed the UFC that he may return to the Octagon and that entered him back into random, year-round testing that is now handled by USADA.
Sonnen told FOX Sports in July that he was staying retired, although those comments were made ahead of his suspension from Nevada coming to an end.
"My race is ran," Sonnen said. "If I thought a damn one of these guys was any good I might come back and do it."
Well it seems like Sonnen is at least thinking about staging a return to action after being re-entered into the drug testing pool with USADA.
Sonnen's test results won't be made public unless he's flagged for some kind of potential doping violation but he's already given samples on two occasions since returning to the UFC roster.
Sonnen's management team at MMA Inc. declined comment when reached by FOX Sports about the former middleweight possibly returning to action.
Sonnen turned 39 earlier this year, but he's stayed very active since his retirement in 2014, including competing in grappling competitions and even starting his own grappling league just recently.
