Wanderlei Silva Admits to NSAC that He Evaded Random Drug Test Due to Taking Diuretics
UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, where he was called for an “informational meeting” to help the commission refine its drug testing and sample collection policies.
While the meeting may have been “informational” on Tuesday, it is likely to linger over Silva’s head like the dark cloud that it is.
During the meeting, the commission’s sample collection agent gave a detailed description of the steps he took to track Silva down in order to collect the required blood and urine samples necessary for a random drug test. He also detailed how after contacting him in person at the Wand Fight Team gym, Silva fled the site.
Both the collection agent and new executive director Bob Bennett attempted to track Silva down by phone, but neither was successful in reaching him or getting him to comply with providing the necessary samples.
Silva appeared in person at the meeting on Tuesday, but did not attempt to negate the commission’s characterization of how events unfolded, even though weeks earlier he published a video providing a different explain of the situation. (Watch Wanderlei Silva's video explanation here.)
In fact, he agreed that was what happened and then provided further information about why he did what he did.
Although he has never tested positive in the past, Silva knew he was likely to test positive on this occasion if he submitted the requested samples.
Silva’s lawyer, Ross Goodman, explained the situation on Silva’s behalf, saying that Silva injured his wrist during the highly publicized on-set scuffle with Chael Sonnen during filming of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil.
As a result of his injury, which in early May was diagnosed as a fractured right wrist, Silva was prescribed anti-inflammatories by UFC doctors. His fight with Sonnen was then moved from May 31 to July 5.
Upon the rescheduling of his fight, Silva began taking diuretics to try and minimize the inflammation in his wrist. When he was surprised by the agent coming to his gym to collect samples for random drug testing, which apparently had never happened to him before, Silva realized the diuretics were likely to show up as a positive and thus avoided providing the samples.
Goodman added that Silva realized in retrospect that he made the wrong choice in how he handled the matter, but when the commission called for him to appear, he wanted to comply and admit to his mistake.
Although Silva’s appearance was framed as informational, after he provided information admitting to evading the sample collection and admitting to using diuretics, the commissioners discussed how to proceed, which appears to be filing a formal complaint against Silva for future action.
“With that information, I will move forward with the Executive Director and determine how we will file this complaint,” said Commission Chairman Francisco Aguilar.
So while it may at first have appeared a slap on the wrist for Silva, a complaint will be filed against him, and he will once again have to deal with the Nevada commission if he hopes to fight again in the future.
