Anderson Silva fails PED test, Diaz fails pot test

The legacy of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, the greatest of all time in the league, has been terribly tarnished. The Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed that Silva had tested positive for two performance enhancing drugs, drostanolone and androstane. The out-of-competition test was administered on 9 Jan.

The results came back today; had they come back before the fight, it would have been cancelled. This was one of three tests for to each fighter, the other two were on 19 Jan and 31 Jan. The results of the day-of tests on Jan 31 are back already as they were urine only. Results from the 19 Jan test have yet to come in.

This was the first time Silva has failed a test, and demonstrates conclusively that the random, comprehensive, out-of-competition testing is making an enormous difference.

The UFC issued a statement.

On February 3, 2015, the UFC organization was notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that Anderson Silva tested positive for Drostanolone metabolites on his Jan. 9 out of competition drug test. UFC’s understanding is that further testing will be conducted by the Commission to confirm these preliminary results.

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.

“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.”

Adding further to the UFC’s headaches, Silva is currently involved with TUF Brazil 4, which is shooting in Las Vegas. Whether he continues on the show has not been determined at this point.

Nick Diaz also failed a test for marijuana. Again, the UFC issued a formal statement.

“The UFC has been notified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that Nick Diaz has tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 on Jan. 31 in Las Vegas, Nev. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by our athletes. As a result of his positive test, Diaz has been informed that he has violated the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy and Promotional Agreement with Zuffa, LLC. The UFC organization will fully respect the Commission’s final decision relating to Diaz at a disciplinary hearing set for February 17.”

With both fighters failing a test, the bout will in all likelihood be declared a No Contest.

This is unfortunately the third marijuana test that Diaz has failed. The first in 2007, vs. Takanori Gomi, and earned him a six-months suspension. The second was in 2012, vs. Carlos Condit, and brought a one-year suspension. Since then the NSAC has dramatically raised the allowable limit, from 50 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL, bringing it in keeping with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.

The next NSAC meeting is Feb. 17; at that point it is likely both Silva and Diaz will be temporarily suspended, and disciplinary hearings will be scheduled for March or April. Given Silva’s age and Diaz’s repeated offenses, the careers of both beloved fighters may be in jeopardy.

The sport has long suffered from PED use. When a star the magnitude of Anderson Silva is caught, it serves notice to the MMA community that anyone can be caught. Perhaps this debacle will prove to be the moment PED use turns around in our sport.

It seems fair to let Silva have the last word.

People around the world love the UFC, but the kids love the UFC, and the families love UFC,” said Silva in October. “It’s bad for the sport. I don’t think this is good because the sport can change the lives of the kids and the people in the world.

When the guys test for the steroids, (they should have) no more fights. When you use the steroids, you use them for a long time. When you use the steroids for a long time, you have a problem. It’s a drug and it’s not good for the sport.

(Steroids) make the sport bad. If you do the sport in a good light, you have a good life. That is my opinion.