Brock Lesnar’s record $2.5-million UFC purse is in question after a failed drug test

The head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said Friday that Brock Lesnar’s UFC-record $2.5-million guaranteed purse will be considered when the time comes to penalize the heavyweight.

Lesnar, 39, submitted a sample June 28 that’s been flagged as potentially positive for a performance-enhancing substance by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, with testing for the backup sample to come, and a possible appeal to follow that.

“From my 26 months on the job, not one ‘B’ sample ever differed from the ‘A’ sample from the same lab,” said Bob Bennett, executive officer of the Nevada commission.

“We can fine and suspend. I’m not saying his whole paycheck will be taken away, but he could be suspended and fined upon his case being heard and all the facts being presented.”

Lesnar’s record purse, which eclipsed Conor McGregor’’s record guarantee four months earlier, will be factored in assessing the size of the fine?

“Exactly, right,” Bennett said.

Though USADA suggests a two-year suspension for a positive drug test, the Nevada commission will have discretion to determine the length of the absence.

Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight champion who performs for WWE, and has a high-profile appearance scheduled next month in SummerSlam at Barclays Center in New York, returned to the octagon surprisingly for UFC 200 on Saturday.

He defeated No. 8-ranked heavyweight Mark Hunt by unanimous decision, relying on his brawn and college wrestling experience to mostly keep Hunt backed to the canvas, subjecting him to short punches and elbows at times.

Because Lesnar didn’t announce his comeback officially until early June, USADA didn’t launch testing of Lesnar until then, bringing protests from Hunt, who speculated Lesnar had “juiced to the gills,” in anticipation of his comeback.

It sounded like sour grapes until Friday.

Bennett said it’s important for the public to know that though former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones was pulled off UFC 200 three days before the event due to a June 14 sample flagged as positive, it usually requires 10 working days to process a sample.

So, while Lesnar’s test was pending as he fought Hunt and collected his purse, there are still pending repercussions.

“We don’t want the public to think, ‘How can you let the guy fight?’” Bennett said.

“You don’t always know when we’ll test you. If you test positive … when we get the results back, it’s going to be a suspension and a fine. That’s how you clean up the sport – test.”

Lesnar called Jones’ positive “unprofessional” a day after it was announced and said, “Happy birthday to me,” upon learning his fight with Hunt was briefly elevated into the absence of Jones’ main event with light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

Bennett said he is unsure how WWE will treat Lesnar’s test result and hasn’t been in contact with the organization.

“It’s unfair and premature for me to comment on,” the question of if Lesnar will fight again in Nevada, “until it’s adjudicated,” Bennett said.

In a statement, the WWE said, “Lesnar has not performed for WWE since WrestleMania and is not scheduled to return until Sunday, August 21.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com