Brock Lesnar subject to USADA testing in light of UFC 200 return

According to UFC senior vice president of public relations, Dave Sholler, Brock Lesnar will be subject to drug testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following his return to the UFC.

The UFC announced on Monday that Lesnar, 38, will make his return to the Octagon against MMA and K-1 veteran Mark hunt at UFC 200. The WWE mega star retired following his loss to Alistair Overeem in 2011, citing health complications and an ongoing battle with diverticulitus.

The UFC announced their partnership with the USADA last year and, as part of their drug testing program, retired fighters were instructed to give the organization four months notice to be re-entered into the testing pool. However, due to Lesnar's 'exceptional circumstances', per Sholler (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting), the former heavyweight champion will be treated as a new athlete joining the promotion.

"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," Sholler said.

Sholler also confirmed that Jeff Novitzsky, UFC senior VP of athlete health and performance, flew out to Lesnar in Saskatchewan to explain the drug testing program.

The WWE-UFC Hybird will take on Mark Hunt in the co-main event of the blockbuster UFC 200 card. The pay-per-view, headlined by a light heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, takes place at The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 9.