Anderson Silva tests positive for anabolic steroid

MANILA, Philippines – Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva failed an out-of-competition drug test ahead of his bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 over the weekend.

UFC officials broke the news on Wednesday, February 4 (PH Time) that drostanolone metabolites were found in the system of the 39-year-old Silva.

Drostanolone is labeled as an anabolic steroid that has been mainly used for bodybuilding.

“Anderson Silva has been an amazing champion and a true ambassador of the sport of mixed martial arts and the UFC, in Brazil as well as around the world. UFC is disappointed to learn of these initial results,” UFC’s press statement said of Silva, who had never previously failed a pre-fight drug test during his tenure in the company.

Although the random screening was administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on January 9, the UFC disclosed that the organization was not notified of the result until the aforementioned date.

The sanctioning body has not handed any sanction for the offense, but it is expected that NSAC will conduct further testing to confirm Silva’s preliminary results.

UFC fighters who were recently found guilty of using drostanolone include Kevin Casey, Brian Ortega and Piotr Hallmann.

“The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by its athletes,” the MMA league said.

Silva, who had been sidelined since he fractured the tibia and fibula bones in his left leg during a technical knockout loss to Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in December 2013, outpointed Diaz via unanimous decision with the scores of 49-46, 50-45 and 50-45 in the main event of UFC 183.

Like Silva, Diaz also flunked a pre-fight drug exam, testing positive for marijuana metabolites as the 31-year-old fighters was reportedly over the allowable limit of 150 nanograms.

The UFC has yet to comment on Diaz’s third failed drug test related to marijuana under the NSAC jurisdiction. – Rappler.com