Wanderlei Silva still under UFC contract, but fate in commission's hands
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Wanderlei Silva was out of UFC 175 after declining to take a random drug test mandated by the Nevada athletic commission. On Friday, reports surfaced that Silva was out of the UFC altogether.
For now though, Silva remains under contract, FOX Sports has confirmed.
A UFC official refuted the reports that Silva was "done" in the promotion, instead saying that UFC president Dana White's words were misinterpreted.
"He has not been released from his contract," the spokesman said.
According to the UFC official, White's proclamation of Silva as "done" referred only to his place on the UFC 175 card, not as a roster member. In addition, as fas as the promotion is concerned, Silva's future lies in the hands of the Nevada commission.
Silva had been scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen on a featured matchup on July 5 in Las Vegas. Last week, with most of the card's key fighters in town for a pre-fight press conference, the Nevada commission chose to spring surprise tests on some of the fighters, commission members told FOX Sports.
Though they would not confirm Silva was among those targeted, Sonnen, speaking in his capacity as an analyst on UFC Tonight, announced that Silva "literally ran" away from a test collector who was about to request a sample.
Additional UFC sources also confirmed that Silva evaded the test.
Silva has made no public comment so far except to express outrage at his removal and say that a statement would be forthcoming.
The Brazilian has competed in the UFC since 2007, and has a career record of 35-12-1 with 1 no contest. His fight with Sonnen had been anticipated for years after an organic buildup that began when Silva accused Sonnen of disrespecting his country while Sonnen was promoting his fight with Anderson Silva. At least three times, the fight has been targeted but fallen through.
Now, however, the bigger concern for Silva is his career. Long considered a worldwide fan favorite, his fighting future is in jeopardy, as he will no doubt be made to stand in front of the Nevada commission before the UFC attempts him to book him again. At that point, his dodged test would be brought into evidence and the commission may choose to keep him on the sidelines rather than license him.
At 37 and with over a year on the sidelines already, that could mark an unceremonious end to a renowned career.
