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MMA

16th Jul 2016

Brock Lesnar responds to news of positive drugs test

Legacy in danger of being tarnished

Patrick McCarry

The lack of shock that accompanied news of Brock Lesnar being popped for an anti-doping violation is a sad indictment on a sport desperately trying to get its house in order.

The result of the UFC 200 co-main event may yet be overturned or declared ‘No Contest’ after Lesnar was flagged for an anti-doping violation by USADA last night.

Lesnar made a triumphant return to MMA and was reportedly paid $2.5m by the promotion for the privilege. That win could be stricken from the record and a sizeable chunk of the fight purse could be withheld, depending on USADA’s adjudication of the case.

Lesnar gave a short statement to the Associated Press, on Friday night, and provided copies of documents that show he passed his first three anti-doping tests after announcing his UFC return. He said:

“We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Right now, the UFC will be hoping that Lesnar’s positive test will mark rock bottom and a turning point in their endeavours to clean up the sport.

The MMA world reacted with a mixture of dismay, anger and mirth as the news broke, last night:

We will bring you more on the story as we have it.