Former UFC contender previously criticized Dagestan wrestlers over steroid use

Chael Sonnen during his active UFC career in 2013 [Getty Images]
Chael Sonnen during his active UFC career in 2013 [Getty Images]

UFC legend Chael Sonnen, 49, has shrugged off concerns about his personal safety ahead of a planned visit to Russia, which remains at war with Ukraine.

The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title contender said in an interview that he will travel to Russia next week at the invitation of the Russian government to attend a wrestling event.

Some have raised concerns that visiting Russia as an American carries serious risks, given the ongoing war with Ukraine and the resulting tensions between Moscow and Washington.

Sonnen drew a line under those worries. "Of course I'll be careful over there. But Vladimir Putin invited me," he said. "Countries like Iran and Russia have their governments directly involved in wrestling events, and they treat athletes very well. So I don't think there will be any problem."

His exact role at the wrestling event has not been disclosed. However, Sonnen's ties to the Russian wrestling world run deep. He has long spoken highly of the wrestling tradition in Russia and the former Soviet states, and has claimed he predicted more than a decade ago that Russian-born fighters would come to dominate the UFC.

Sonnen also previously helped American wrestlers gain access to training in Russia. While the visit may appear unusual given the current geopolitical climate, his connection to Russian wrestling is nothing new.

That said, Sonnen has not always been complimentary toward Russia. He once criticized doping among Russian athletes, saying: "The vast majority of coaches sent from Dagestan to the United States have failed. Why can't they develop American fighters the same way? The answer is steroids. That's the truth."

Sonnen himself is no stranger to doping controversy. He tested positive in 2014 during his fighting career and acknowledged that he had violated the rules.


yjc@heraldcorp.com