WWE Raw and SummerSlam News, Schedule and Update: Brock Lesnar Off the Hook After Testing Positive for Drug Use
Brock Lesnar is still up for WWE's Raw next week and SummerSlam pay-per-view next month, even after twice being tested positive for drugs in UFC 200. The four-time WWE champion and former UFC champion Lesnar failed tests taken from June 28 and July 9, prior to a match against Mark Hunt.
Lesnar may face heavy sanctions, including a possibility of a two-year ban from UFC as mandated by the fight promotion's new policy. However, the fighter is off the hook if WWE is to be asked, citing that rules for sanctions against drugs or PED offenders is limited only to "full time" wrestlers. Lesnar is considered a "part-time" athlete at WWE and is not subject to the company's talent wellness program that supposedly draws the line against drug use.
WWE justified as well that Lesnar only appeared four times in 2014, eight times in 2015 and has seen action seven time so far for this year, figures far fewer than the average appearance of other wrestlers of more than 200 times per year. Furthermore, WWE states that on the contrary to UFC that is classified as a "real" sport, they are "show business" entity bent for entertainment purposes only therefore much unlike competitive sports that are usually strict on sanctions. The talent wellness program is only a promotional tool to encourage full-time entertainers to live a healthy lifestyle.
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Meanwhile, Lesnar already filed an appeal following the result to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and is yet to receive the potential sanction from United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Though there is no specific date yet for him to appear before the Nevada commission nor with USADA, Lesnar is already set for action at WWE Raw next Monday.
The juggernaut is scheduled to trade blows against Randy Orton on a featured sneak peak bout for the upcoming SummerSlam in Brooklyn, New York on August 21.
Meanwhile, Mark Hunt reacted to his loss and Lesnar's case. Hunt said that UFC is yet to contact him and notify him of developments, urging UFC to take tangible actions against Lesnar.
"Before the fight I was assuming he was cheating, because there's no way that guy makes 265 pounds. And the thing about that is, he's sitting here saying 'this is a fair place," Hunt stressed. "Well, it's not fair. These guys are cheating and they should be in court for it. (They should) lose all of their money if they're cheating, because if I die in there, who's going to look after my family."
