USADA informs Anderson Silva of potential anti-doping violation

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) yesterday informed UFC middleweight Anderson Silva (34-8-0, 1NC) of a potential violation relating to an October 26 out-of-competition sample.

Silva was scheduled to face Kelvin Gastelum at Shanghai’s UFC Fight Night 122 on Nov. 25 but has since been pulled from the card. The UFC is currently looking for a replacement for Gastelum.

Siva had previously tested positive for a UFC 183 fight against Nick Diaz in 2015. He was suspended for a year and fined $380,000 USD.

The UFC released a statement on its website:

The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Anderson Silva of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 26, 2017. As a result, Silva has been provisionally suspended by USADA. Due to the proximity of Silva’s upcoming scheduled bout at UFC Fight Night, Shanghai, China on November 25, 2017 against Kelvin Gastelum, Silva has been removed from the card and UFC is currently seeking a replacement.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Silva. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.

The process continues.

@kenaiandrews