George Sullivan pulled from UFC on FOX 20 for ‘potential compliance issue’ with USADA UFC officials announced Thursday that welterweight George Sullivan has been pulled from Saturday’s UFC on FOX 20 card and will not be facing Hector Urbina. Sullivan (17-5) was flagged with a “potential compliance issue” with the UFC’s anti-doping policy stemming from “voluntarily disclosed information” the fighter provided to USADA. Sullivan has not yet been charged with a potential violation, according to the UFC’s statement which said “Out of an abundance of caution, Sullivan has been removed from his scheduled bout on Saturday night against Hector Urbina while USADA conducts an investigation into the matter. Urbina will still weigh in as a potential backup opponent should there be a need for him to compete in another bout on Saturday. Otherwise, he will be re-booked for another card in the near future.” Chael Sonnen enters USADA testing pool U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) officials today revealed Thursday that Chael Sonnen was recently subject to two different out-of-competition testing samples, which suggests a possible MMA return. Sonnen (28-14-1) retired from the sport in June 2014 after he tested positive for PED’s prior to his UFC 175 matchup with Wanderlei Silva. Per MMAjunkie Sonnen asked to be entered into the registered testing pool as he debates a return to competition. Retired athletes under UFC contract must give USADA at least four months notice before coming back to the cage must provide a testing window before stepping back into competition. Alexander Shlemenko’s drug suspension to be lifted Per MMAFighting, former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko had his three-year suspension and $10,000 fine reduced from the California State Athletic Commission Wednesday. Shlemenko (53-9 NC) tested positive for PED’s in February 2015 and is still under contract with Bellator. Since the suspension he’s fought twice overseas for M-1 in Russia, defeating Vyacheslav Vasilevsky twice. The California State Athletic Commission was only able to suspend Shlemenko until Feb. 28, when his license expired. Additionally, the Russian fighter’s fine was reduced to $5,000; his suspension will be officially lifted when he pays the fine.
