Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has not competed inside the octagon since failing a drug test for his UFC 200 match up. However, it would appear that the former title holder may be closer to a comeback than initially anticipated.
Rather than staying in the USADA testing pool and waiting out his suspension, Lesnar returned to the WWE as a professional wrestler. The WWE star’s contract is reportedly nearing its end and UFC President Dana White has claimed that the former heavyweight champion is quite interested in making an octagon return.
As Lesnar removed himself from the USADA testing pool six months into his year-long suspension, the former champion will have to re-enter USADA’s graces and serve the rest of his suspension before making any kind of comeback. With rumors flying that Lesnar will potentially make an appearance at UFC 226 and challenge the winner of Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, it would appear that the former champion may be looking to make his octagon return sooner rather than later.
However, USADA seemingly has a history of not fully disclosing the details of their testing pool. Specifically, the anti-doping watch dogs do not always reveal which fighters are currently being tested.
TSN Sports’ Aaron Bronsteter once reported that fighter Elias Garcia was hidden from the USADA testing pool roster to avoid spoilers for the UFC’s UFC Fight Pass series.
“I received comment from USADA:
‘Contender 1′ is Elias Garcia, who was featured on Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight and his name was withheld to avoid spoiling the show’s outcome before it aired.
I received comment from USADA:
"Contender 1" is Elias Garcia, who was featured on Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight and his name was withheld to avoid spoiling the show's outcome before it aired. https://t.co/83LMDES9rU
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 16, 2018
Beyond that, UFC.com’s Damon Martin has reported that USADA refused to confirm or deny Brock Lesnar’s current position with the testing pool.
“Just FYI — I reached out to USADA to see if Brock Lesnar had asked to be re-entered into the testing pool. USADA informed me they couldn’t confirm a fighter coming out of retirement any longer until the fighter makes it public first.”
Just FYI — I reached out to USADA to see if Brock Lesnar had asked to be re-entered into the testing pool. USADA informed me they couldn't confirm a fighter coming out of retirement any longer until the fighter makes it public first.
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) June 16, 2018
“I’m assuming if Lesnar re-entered the testing pool that his name would show up on the reports like everybody else but that’s the first time they’ve ever said they couldn’t confirm that information about a fighter retiring or coming out of retirement”
I'm assuming if Lesnar re-entered the testing pool that his name would show up on the reports like everybody else but that's the first time they've ever said they couldn't confirm that information about a fighter retiring or coming out of retirement
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) June 16, 2018
Ultimately, it would appear that Brock Lesnar may already be back in the USADA testing pool. However, only time will tell.
