Sonnen passes drug test, clear for Bellator 170 bout vs. Ortiz

Chael Sonnen has cleared one major hurdle on the path to his Bellator debut.

The 39-year-old middleweight recently passed a pre-fight drug test administered by the California State Athletic Commission ahead of his Bellator 170 bout opposite Tito Ortiz on Jan. 21, according to Steven Marrocco of MMAjunkie.

CSAC executive director Andy Foster confirmed that Sonnen was tested by a full panel of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He expects Ortiz will be tested soon.

The news is a huge relief for Sonnen and Bellator, as the fighter has two failed drug tests on his record. In September 2010, the CSAC discovered that Sonnen had elevated testosterone levels for his first fight with then-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and Sonnen was suspended for one year. In 2014, he was once again busted for PED use, resulting in a two-year suspension that prompted him to retire from MMA.

Sonnen reemerged in 2016, signing with Bellator. At the time, Sonnen claimed there was a clause in his contract that would force him to incur a $500,000 penalty should he again test positive for a banned substance.