It was the kind of surreal moment that only Chael Sonnen could produce. Hours earlier, news broke that the UFC fighter and Fox Sports mixed martial arts analyst had tested positive for two banned substances and would not be able to fight at UFC 175.

The quick-witted Sonnen almost instantly went from on the hot seat to in charge of the conversation with Fox Sports 1 host Mike Hill when he managed to wrangle an apology from Hill before he even discussed his failed test.

View photos Chael Sonnen, top, defeated Mauricio Shogun Rua in August. (Getty) More

Sonnen tested positive for two banned substances, Anastrozole and Clomiphene. Both are on the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2014 prohibited list, for in-competition and out-of-competition use.

On the Fox Sports 1 interview, Sonnen attempted several times to say the drugs are legal for use out-of-competition. However, on WADA's site, it says in all bold face capital letters, "SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES (IN- AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION)". Below that is a list of substances, of which both Anastrozole and Clomiphene are included.

Travis Tygart, the CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said there is no ambiguity. Neither Anastrozole or Clomephine are permitted at any time.

"Both of those are prohibited in- and out-of-competition," Tygart told Yahoo Sports. "The reason why is because they can maximize the effects of testosterone use or other anabolic steroids use, as well as in and of themselves providing a performance-enhancing benefit."

Later, WADA has sections that list substances that are banned in-competition but which are permitted out-of-competition.

"Yes they can [test me 24-7-365]," Sonnen told Hill regarding the Nevada commission's right to test him. "But there is a distinction drawn. It doesn't matter if you're talking NCAA Division I, the IOC or this commission. There has always been a distinction between game day and out of competition. And when you're out of competition, if you're not on anabolic; if you're not on illegal substances; if you're not a steroid or a performance enhancer of any kind, that is acceptable."

He's wrong and the WADA rules clearly denote that. But here is the problem Sonnen faces: Even if the drugs are permitted out-of-competition, Sonnen was in-competition when he tested positive.

He was licensed to fight at UFC 175 on May 13. On May 23, he was given an unannounced, random test by the Nevada commission, which it had the perfect right to do since he is licensed and since he had a fight coming up.

Sonnen may try to argue that he took the drugs prior to being licensed, and that may be. But there is no gray area, as Sonnen said there is, in the rules. It is the burden of the licensed athlete to provide a clean test whenever tested by the commission, whether or not there is a fight.

Sonnen, though, was licensed AND was tested on May 23 shortly after his news conference at the MGM Grand Garden to announce the main card of UFC 175.

The rest of his comments were nothing more than red herrings that were used in an attempt to obfuscate the real issue.

View photos Chael Sonnen is taken down by Rashad Evans during UFC 167. (USA TODAY Sports) More

Story continues