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25th Jul 2016

Chael Sonnen refuses to rule out UFC return as ban ends

Never say never...

Tom Victor

MMA veteran Chael Sonnen has not dismissed the prospect of coming out of retirement after two years out of the sport.

The 39-year-old ended his career after being handed a two-year worldwide ban for multiple failed drugs tests, but that ban ended last month and he is in the process of finding out whether he is eligible for a return.

Sonnen told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he has entered the USADA testing pool, but admitted he has had no contact from UFC higher-ups over potentially coming back to the promotion that terminated his contract in 2014.

“I have not heard from anybody [at UFC],” he said. “I don’t know if that’s because things were changing hands.

“[I’m] going to give it a good look. I’m not committed to it and there’s some moving parts.”

Sonnen has not fought since losing to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in November 2013, and has had three separate UFC spells during a career going back nearly two decades.

Celebrities Attend UFC 170 - Rousey v McMannEthan Miller/Getty Images

He is keen to hold back on talk of a return until the results of his first USADA test are in, saying “If I can pass the first test all the rest will be fine.”

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