Brian Stann talks Sonnen, Belfort at NSAC hearings: 'Consistency is extremely important'

Former UFC fighter Brian Stann has openly admitted drug-testing issues played a “major part” in his decision to retire from MMA.

So like many others, Stann kept a close eye on Wednesday’s Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) meeting in Las Vegas, which featured hearings for Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, whom this year have both failed drug tests under the commission’s jurisdiction.

Sonnen’s hearing stemmed from his two failed drug tests within a one-month period prior to a scheduled bout at UFC 175 on July 5th. Those tests collectively included five banned substances: anastrozole, clomifene, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human growth hormone (HGH) and recombinant human erythropoietin.

As punishment for his offense, Sonnen was handed a two-year suspension, ordered to pay financial reparations for the cost of the testing and will be required to assist the NSAC on improving its drug testing program going forward.

The two-year suspension marked an unprecedented length for an MMA fighter, but Stann feels it’s a legitimate punishment considering the severity of Sonnen’s actions parlayed with the fact he’s a repeat offender.

“He’s been caught before, he’s had issues before, so I think it’s fair,” Stann told MMAjunkie. “There’s got to be more of a deterrent for people to do this, because it’s not necessarily just the individuals, it’s an environment that’s been created where once one guy has a distinct advantage, everybody else feels like they have to have that advantage. So there are certainly others out there that need to get caught as well. He just happened to be the one that they’re going to make an example out of.”

Stann says that Sonnen, who officially retired from competition following the results of the first failed test, had no intention of returning for another fight regardless of his suspension length. One NSAC commissioner suggested a lifetimde ban, something Stann believes would have sent a much more startling message.

“It doesn’t necessarily affect him,” Stann said. “I’ve spoken to Chael; there are no plans right now for him to come back. I think he owned everything, which is excellent, and it is what it is. It’s pretty much what he expected and I like the fact they’re handing out longer suspensions. …This isn’t basketball. We’re talking about combat sports. We’re giving each other concussions; it’s a major advantage to be on these substances. If you’re a multiple time violator, then you should be gone.”

While the suspension may not hinder Sonnen one way or another, Stann believes having the former three-time UFC title challenger aid the commission in its quest to clean up doping will only be beneficial because of his thorough knowledge of the sport.

“I think it’s achievable in that you got to understand: if you’re the ones trying to regulate and catch people, you got to talk to the guys on the inside,” Stann said. “It’s kind of like when investigators hire ex-criminals to help them solve a crime. To understand the ins-and-the-outs and what’s causing guys to go that route. ‘Chael, what made you want to take those substances? What made you feel like you had to take those substances? How do we stop guys from getting to that point? How do we deter them from getting to that point? If we’re handing out two-year suspensions to guys who have been caught before, would you have risked it?’ Maybe he says, ‘No, I wouldn’t have.’”

Sonnen’s hearing displayed the power in which the NSAC can wield when they choose. In the situation of Belfort, the line of questioning from the commission was brought on with a far different mood.

Despite the fact “The Phenom” was flagged for elevated testosterone levels in June, he was granted a conditional license by the NSAC and has since been scheduled to challenge UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman for the belt at UFC 181 in December.

Belfort’s case is controversial because he is also a repeat offender, yet there was no mention of his 2006 failed drug test in Nevada during the hearing. That raises questions about the factors behind how punishments are handed out, and Stann feels there’s a glaring lack of consistency.

“It’s surprising,” Stann said of Belfort’s licensure. “It shows the extremes where on one end you got a guy pushing for a lifetime ban, you got another guy who gives a two-year ban, then you got another guy over here who gets the opportunity to fight in December for a world championship. That, to me, doesn’t look like it’s consistent.”

Sonnen and Belfort aren’t the first fighters to be caught using ban substances, and they certainly won’t be the last, either. There’s no denying the commission is putting noticeably more effort into catching those abusers than in the past, but Stann says unless the punishments for those athletes are significant and equal across the board, the culture won’t change.

“Whenever you’re talking about a disciplinary action, one of the keys that any organization tries to establish it consistency across the board,” Stann said. “One guy gets hammered and the other guy is allowed to continue on.

“If you’re a multiple-time violator, it should be over for you. You should no longer be able to compete. It’s unfortunate. I’m sure Vitor would argue that with me and I may not know all the details, but like I said, when it comes to disciplinary measures, consistency is extremely important.”

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(Pictured: Brian Stann)