UFC legend Anderson Silva argued that sexual enhancement medication, and not steroids, is the real reason why he failed the drug tests administered on him by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
This is what the athlete's lawyer Michael Alonso wrote on behalf of his client in a statement for Silva's disciplinary hearing regarding his suspension for using performance enhancing drugs.
According to MMA Fighting, the first drug test was conducted on Jan. 9, before Silva's fight against Nick Diaz. This was his first fight in 13 months after suffering a broken leg during his match against Chris Weidman on Dec. 28, 2013.
Then, another drug test was carried on Jan. 31 right before his match with Diaz.
On both incidents, Silva tested positive for various illegal substances such as androstane and drostanolone metabolites.
On Aug. 13, the Nevada Athletic Commission issued a 12-month suspension on Silva, which is retroactive to the date of his fight against Diaz, Bleacher Report has learned. He will also have to pay a fine of $360,000.
In his defense, Silva admitted to taking sexual enhancing drugs, which were meant to treat erectile dysfunction, during the period he was tested by the agency. According to Alonso, the athlete got the supplements from his friend Marcos Fernandes. He said that the liquid-based medication came from Thailand, The Guardian reported.
The lawyer also explained that the supplement contained an anabolic steroid known as drostanolone metabolite. Aside from these, Alonso noted that Silva also used to take another kind of supplement that may have contained androstane.
Silva's legal camp argued that these supplements, which are not categorized as performance enhancing drugs, tainted the results of the drug tests. However, the Nevada Athletic Commission will still have to analyze Alonso's written statement before making a final decision.
For now, as part of his suspension, Silva will not be able to return to the UFC octagon until Jan. 31, 2016. Also, even though he won the match against Diaz on UFC 183, the result was changed to a No Contest.
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