Former UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, who is a 5th dan black belt in taekwondo, announced back in April his plans to represent Brazil in Taekwondo at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The UFC ex champ held a press conference in Rio de Janeiro in April to announce his plans to go through the Olympic tryouts:
“I stopped training taekwondo when I was 17 so it’s going to be tough, because taekwondo is very different today,” Silva said at the press conference. “I’m not worried about being embarrassed by the other athletes. For everything sport gave to me, I will try to give it back. I don’t have anything to prove. I’m here to help the sport and make it stronger.
“I never stopped training and watching the sport. I always used taekwondo kicks in my MMA fights, but now I have to train taekwondo only and adapt myself. It’s another challenge I have to face, and I’m willing to get embarrassed for it.”
Silva’s manager Jorge Guimaraes told PVT that Silva has now changed his plans:
“This Olympic thing has been discarded. Anderson won’t participate in the Olympics,” Guimaraes said. “He’s now waiting for the Athletic Commission’s verdict, which should come soon. We are waiting, we’ll see if there’s going to be a punishment and how long it will be. He’s training, Anderson never stops training. He’s staying active.”
Anderson Silva who is currently suspended, will appear in front of the Nevada Athletic Commission on August 7th for his official hearing.
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