Brock Lesnar receives exemption to fight at UFC 200

WWE part-time star Brock Lesnar has been granted an exemption in the UFC drug-testing policy to fight Mark Hunt at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas, reports Sherdog.com.

UFC also announced Tuesday that conversations with Lesnar were “ongoing for some time” until Lesnar officially agreed to a deal on Friday, June 3 before the announcement was made at UFC 199 on Saturday, June 4.

Lesnar was then registered in the USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) database on Monday, June 6 to be included in UFC’s anti-doping policy testing pool.

The policy states that a retired fighter may not compete in UFC until after a four-month period to be drug-tested. However, the exemption in the policy reads: “UFC may grant an exemption to the four-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an Athlete.”

UFC said in their statement Tuesday that they believe Lesnar qualified for the exemption: “UFC may grant a former athlete an exemption to the four-month written notice rules in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete. Given Lesnar last competed in UFC on December 30, 2011, long before the UFC Anti-Doping Policy went into effect, for purposes of the Anti-Doping Policy, he is being treated similarly to a new athlete coming into the organization.”

UFC added that Lesnar was made aware of the new drug policy during negotiations, which he has now been made aware of…

“Lesnar required permission from WWE to compete in UFC 200 and only agreed to terms and signed a bout agreement last Friday. He was therefore unable to officially start the Anti-Doping Policy process any earlier. UFC, however, did notify Lesnar in the early stages of discussions that if he were to sign with the UFC, he would be subject to all of the anti-doping rules. Lesnar and his management have now been formally educated by USADA on the policy, procedures, and expectations.”

(READ MORE: Full Coverage of the UFC 200 build-up at MMATorch.com)