Thiago Silva: Admits Doping at UFC 125
By Sean Farrell
It was revealed yesterday to the MMA world that the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) had found UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva’s positive urine test to be accurate as Silva’s UFC 125 pre-fight urine sample was quoted as “inconsistent with human urine.”
Questions were raised in regards to Silva’s test when the NSAC announced that Silva was the only test still in processing leaving many to wonder why. Silva became more of a question mark when the UFC scratched him from a planned bout against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Initially, Silva spoke with confidence, unconcerned over the discrepancy in his drug test for he had done nothing against NSAC regulations prior to his UFC 125 fight.
“Injured? Me? I’m very healthy. That’s not true and looks like the NSAC did two tests, one was positive and the other negative,” Silva said, when addressing a rumor about being forced out of the Jackson bout with an injury. “My blood is clean, I’m calm, took nothing.”
However, the news broke of the NSAC going public with strong evidence that Silva faked his UFC 125 drug test, and the Brazilian took to the web through his training camp at American Top Team. Silva issued a formal admission and an apology for cheating. Silva’s statement is below.
“We make decisions every day of our lives. Some are good and some are bad. When you make a bad decision, you can either make the situation worse by trying to cover it up or lie about it or just stick your head in the sand and refuse to acknowledge it even happened or you can own up to it with an honest explanation, accept the consequences of your actions, apologize to the people affected by it, learn from it and move on. I’m choosing the second option.
I used a urine adulterant when giving a sample following my fight with Brandon Vera. I did so in an attempt to alter the results of the test and knowingly broke the rules of the Nevada Athletic Commission. This was a terrible decision on my part for which I will be punished. I am prepared to accept this punishment, learn from it and move on. I apologize to the Commission, the UFC, Brandon Vera and the MMA fans.
I do want to explain the circumstances behind my actions. Please do not interpret this as an attempt to justify my actions. I know they were wrong and I know I made bad decisions and I know I deserve to be punished. That is why I began my statement with an admission and an apology before going into these details. This is not an excuse, only an explanation.
I had been tested on five prior occasions while fighting for the UFC before the Brandon Vera fight. Four of the tests were urine only and one included a blood sample as well in New Jersey the day before the fight. I passed each of those tests. I suffered a severe back injury shortly before the Rashad Evans fight. It was the biggest fight of my career and there was no way I was going to pull out of it. I fought and lost and was out of action for a year rehabilitating the injury and getting ready to fight again.
I reinjured my back 45 days before the fight with Brandon Vera. After not fighting for a year, I made the decision to not pull out of the fight. I also decided that the only way I could continue with the fight was to take injections in my back and spine that contained substances prohibited by the Nevada Athletic Commission. I also made the decision to use a product to hide the presence of these substances in a urine test.
These decisions were mine and mine alone. I did not share this information with anyone prior to the fight for fear that I would not be allowed to fight. I obviously made a terrible decision. I have since learned that it may have even been possible to fight had I been open and honest and disclosed the injury and treatment prior to the fight. I also realize that not being allowed to fight as a result of the treatment would have been a better result than the mess into which I have now gotten myself.
Again, I take full responsibility for making the decision to break the rules and try to cheat the system. I will accept the punishment I receive and will learn from this. I plan to come back as a better person and professional as a result.”
Silva’s positive test has been great news for the man he beat at UFC 125: Brandon Vera, who had his UFC contract terminated after the loss only to be reinstated as a result of Silva’s attempt to cheat. Vera also is likely to see the loss Silva gave him overturned and ruled as an appropriate No Contest.
Silva will likely face fine and suspension by the NSAC, in addition to being stripped of the victory over Vera. The NSAC will hold a meeting on April 7th, 2011 to decide Silva’s punishment regarding the matter. This was expected, as Vera himself was suspicious at the amount of strength Silva possessed in their bout and knew something was wrong.