Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been suspended one year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing multiple drug tests.
Silva’s suspension, which was voted on unanimously by the NSAC at a hearing Thursday, is retroactive to Jan. 31, the date he won a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 183 in Las Vegas.
The mixed martial arts legend tested positive for anabolic steroids drostanolone and androstane on a Jan. 9 out-of-competition blood test. Silva was also found with temazepam and oxazepam (anti-anxiety medications) in his system and failed a Jan. 31 urine test. Temazepam and Oxazepam are considered banned substances in-competition unless the athlete has a therapeutic use exemption.
The 40-year-old denied intentionally ingesting any banned substances. Instead, he and his legal counsel asserted that Silva tested positive for drostanolone because of an off-brand sexual enhancement product he used. Silva explained that he failed to disclose his use of the supplement on his pre-fight medical questionnaire because he did not want to admit to the NSAC he was using such a product, but insisted he did not think the sexual enhancement supplement contained any banned substance.
NSAC commissioner Anthony Marnell expressed his frustration with Silva after listening to his testimony.
“I think [Silva has] done excellent things, but this is the first time he’s really been subject to enhanced testing. I feel there’s some intention here to use the product to come back from a devastating injury,” Marnell said, alluding to the fact Silva hadn’t fought since severely breaking his leg at UFC 168. “There’s definitely knowledge of what’s going on here, and we’re just playing games. And that’s my frustration at all this soft testimony.”
Silva (34-6) is considered by many to be the best mixed martial artist in the history of the sport, but he hasn’t technically won a fight since beating Stephan Bonnar on Oct. 13, 2012.
In addition to the suspension, Silva’s win over Diaz was overturned and changed to a no contest and he was fined $380,000 (that total includes his $200,000 win bonus and 30 percent of his $600,000 fight purse).
The UFC released the following statement regarding Silva’s suspension.
“Following the Nevada Athletic Commission’s hearing today, Anderson Silva is required to serve a 12-month suspension from competition, retroactive from his last fight on January 31. At the conclusion of his suspension, Silva must present a clean test upon reapplication of a license before his next fight in Nevada. The UFC organization maintains a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by its athletes, and fully supports the Commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure clean competition by all MMA athletes.
UFC recognizes Silva’s great career and looks forward to his return to the Octagon in 2016.”
