New Wand video: Problem is solved, hopes to fight Sonnen

Wanderlei Silva released a new video, following his appearance at a Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing to discuss his running away from a Performance Enhancing Drug test. This video contradicts an earlier explanation he offered, also by video.

Diuretics are illegal in MMA as they are used to mask the use of PEDs. Wand’s statement that diuretics are all he took – for a injured wrist – is not a compelling explanation.

It would have helped if Silva had with him the MD that allegedly prescribed the diuretics for a wrist injury. Instead he was accompanied by a high profile criminal defense attorney, famous for cases like getting a Hell’s Angel’s murder and racketeering charges dismissed in the infamous Laughlin River Run Riot, and getting $5,000,000 in extra pay for pilots flying CIA agents to Iraq. In defense of Wand’s use of Ross Goodman, he is intimately familiar with the MMA space, having co-founded the WFA, and sold it to UFC.

It is widely believed that the NSAC will equate refusal to take the test with failing the test, and will suspend him for a full year. However, in remarks outside the hearing, Wand appears on camera saying the situation is now solved. He also referenced fighting Chael Sonnen, who is emphatically retired.

“I was happy to clarify things and say the truth,” said Wand. “I am relieved to have solved this problem. We explained to them the circumstances that I was not using any PEDS. I injured my wrist in February and after that I felt extreme pain in training, so I was prescribed anti-inflammatories and that made me swell up, so then I started taking diuretics to expel the water out.

When they sent that guy to my gym I was still taking diuretics. And when you fail a test, people don’t want to know if it was diuretics or steroids. I don’t use PEDs or steroids, I have never used it and I’ve never had any problems in that area. I have never failed a doping test before. I have nothing to hide and I am glad we solved this.

Now I’m waiting for Sonnen’s suspension to end or Belfort to get licensed. Let’s go to the next. I will keep training 100%.

Wand then turns to his wife Tea, and says “Right honey?”

Wanderlei’s lack of understanding about what is in all likelihood going to derail his career for a year is unsettling. Maybe all you can say right now is that it has been a weird few days for mixed martial arts.