Former UFC champ Brock Lesnar retires from MMA again

Brock Lesnar has retired from MMA. Again.

As was noted last week, Lesnar was one of the many names removed from the UFC’s fighter roster database. It was revealed on Tuesday that Lesnar notified the promotion of his retirement from the sport, which also takes him out of the USADA testing pool. Lesnar is, of course, under a one-year USADA suspension after he tested positive for clomiphene in both out-of-competition and post-fight drug tests. His UFC 200 win over Mark Hunt was consequently overturned to a no contest, and the Nevada Athletic Commission fined him $250,000 and also suspended him for a year.

For those curious as to how Lesnar’s retirement would affect his suspension, Marc Raimondi’s report on MMA Fighting details the current status of his USADA ban.

“He would have been eligible to return July 15, 2017, but his suspension has been frozen since he is no longer in the testing pool, per the promotion’s anti-doping policy.

The former UFC heavyweight champion would not be able to compete in the Octagon again, if he so chooses, until he serves the duration of his suspension, which would be five months starting from when he re-enters the drug-testing pool.

‘Pursuant to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, all UFC athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping policy violation are required to remain in the USADA registered testing pool and make themselves available for testing in order to receive credit for time served under his or her sanction,” USADA’s press release regarding Lesnar’s sanction stated. “Furthermore, if an athlete retires during his or her period of ineligibility, the athlete’s sanction will be tolled until such time the athlete notifies USADA of his or her return from retirement and once again makes him or herself available for no-advance-notice, out-of-competition testing.’”

Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) previously retired from MMA after his TKO loss to Alistair Overeem in December 2011. Brock later re-joined the WWE, but was able to make what was termed as a one-off appearance at UFC 200. Don’t worry, though, as if you’re in desperate need to see Lesnar compete again, he’ll be facing Bill Goldberg at WrestleMania 33 on April 2nd.