Doctor: Silva claims 'he didn't use steroids,' will seek more tests
UPDATE: Anderson Silva released a statement denying he has ever taken performance-enhancing drugs.
On Tuesday it was revealed that Anderson Silva failed a pre-fight drug test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission with two separate performance-enhancing drugs showing up in his sample, but less than a day later he's proclaiming his innocence.
Dr. Marcio Tannure, who is Silva's personal physician as well as the medical director of the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission, spoke to a Brazilian radio station where he says the former middleweight champion told him personally he didn't take any steroids.
"Anderson told me he's disappointed, upset because he didn't use steroids," Tannure said when speaking to Band News Radio (translation by MMAFighting.com). "He will ask for the confirmation test because he believes the only explanation is a contamination or a mistake from the lab. He told me: 'I have an impeccable career history and I wouldn't want to tarnish my image.'"
Silva has gone 40 fights over almost 18 years without testing positive for any performance-enhancing drugs of any kind, but the latest results showed two separate steroids in the fighter's sample taken on Jan. 9. The tests were taken leading up to Silva's bout against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31.
The results from the Jan. 9 test claim Silva tested positive for Drostanolone -- an anabolic steroid more commonly known as Masteron on the drug market -- and Androstane, another form of steroids.
The test results were not returned until Feb. 3, which is why the fight was allowed to continue. Silva defeated Diaz by unanimous decision.
Tannure says that it's too soon to judge Silva for the drug test and the former champion will request additional testing done on the samples taken to prove the validity of the positive result.
"It's too soon to judge," Tannure said. "He has the right to a confirmation test and two other results. The Nevada Athletic Commission hasn't talked yet, and the press is already judging him. The process isn't over yet. If the whole process was already over, he would have already been suspended."
The laboratory used to confirm the results -- the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory -- is a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab. WADA sets the standards for drug testing in major sports such as the Olympics and currently only 32 facilities meet their requirements for anti-doping testing.
The next step for Silva will come Feb. 17 when the Nevada State Athletic Commission holds their monthly meeting. The commission will likely hand Silva a temporary suspension pending a full hearing at a later date.
Silva maintains the right to file an appeal with the commission as well.
