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Coach: Anderson Silva’s Failed Drug Test Came From A Contaminated Supplement

Coach: Anderson Silva’s Failed Drug Test Came From A Contaminated Supplement

 

 

Former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva has been flagged for a potential doping violation following an out of competition drug test by USADA in November.

official release:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Anderson Silva of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 26, 2017. As a result, Silva has been provisionally suspended by USADA. Due to the proximity of Silva’s upcoming scheduled bout at UFC Fight Night, Shanghai, China on November 25, 2017 against Kelvin Gastelum, Silva has been removed from the card and UFC is currently seeking a replacement.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Silva. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

However things might be looking better for the Spider as he’s working with USADA to figure out just what caused the failed doping test.

Rogerio Camoes, vouched for his fighter’s innocence on Revista Combate after speaking with the ex-middleweight champion.

“I’ve been with Anderson for many years, and in our conversation, the first thing he said was, “Master, I did not take anything,’” Camoes said.

“I believe his word, because Anderson is a very mature and very experienced guy, and he’s aware that he was not going to use one thing to commit to being suspended, to tarnish the image,” Camoes said. “We believe in some contamination in some product or supplement. All the products he used will be analyzed for us to prove that there was a contamination. The process is slow, it is not overnight, it requires time and investment, it is very expensive.”

Camoes also denied that he would encourage Silva to use PEDs:

 “People who have known me for a long time and know my work have the notion that I would be the last person to do this, first because I know anabolic steroids from A to Z. I was a bodybuilder,” Camoes said. “The first anti-doping test I ever did was in 1987 at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, the judo delegation that was competing internationally. I was tested for 10 years of my life. I know it from A to Z, so I would be the last person to tell someone to take something and get caught. Only if I was crazy and stupid. I would be the last one to encourage Anderson to do such a thing.”

If Silva is found at fault, it could result in a lengthy suspension for the 42-year-old Brazilian. Regardless, Camoes believes that “The Spider” will eventually fight again.

“In life, when something is taken from you, that’s when you value it the most. The thing he most wants is to fight. I think he’s going to fight again. Before that happens, I remember talking to [boxing coach Luiz] Dórea, I said, ‘This guy is fighting for another three or four years.’…Of course there will be a penalty. We know the USADA rules and even if it has a contamination, it is the athlete’s responsibility for what he takes. Because he is a repeat offender, he will [have] more.”

 

Anderson Silva Addresses USADA violation: Nothing Changes My Plans

Previously Jon Jones avoided getting a lengthy suspension prior to UFC 200 because it was determined he tested positive due to chinese viagra he took.

If USADA were to decide he was at a small amount of fault for his failed test, similar to Yoel Romero and Tim Means, he would receive a one year suspension.

Why one year and not six months? That’s because for a second violation, section 10.7.1 comes into play. Under Clause C of this section, Silva’s suspension would be double what he would receive if this were his first violation. So, if Silva is treated the same way as Means and Romero, he would receive a 1-year suspension.

Another UFC athlete has received a lesser punishment for a tainted supplement: Justin Ledet’s suspension was reduced from two years down to four months, as he was able to demonstrate he researched his supplement before taking it, listed it on his doping control form, and immediately provided an open container of the supplement on request. Further testing of unopened batches proved the supplement was tainted with an unlisted substance that caused his failed test.