Anderson Silva Is A Steroid User

Tuesday it was announced that former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva tested positive for steroids ahead of his UFC 183 fight against Nick Diaz. In a test that was administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on January 9^th, Silva tested positive for Drostanolone metabolites, which indicates the use of an anabolic steroid, as well as Androsterone, a form of endogenous testosterone. UFC officials addressed the failed test today in a statement that said, “Anderson Silva has been an amazing champion and a true ambassador of the sport of mixed martial arts and the UFC, in Brazil as well as around the world. UFC is disappointed to learn of these initial results.”

Anderson Silva is a steroid user. I never thought I would have to write that sentence. I realize that Silva is 39 and coming off of a devastating injury so maybe I should have seen this coming, but that thought never crossed my mind. There are fighters who people suspect to be cheaters but Silva was never one of those guys. Silva never looked as physically imposing as some of his opponents, he just had movement that would make a professional dancer jealous. While I never considered myself an “Anderson Silva guy,” I certainly understood that what I was watching was special. I understood that Silva was doing things that had never been done in mixed martial arts before and it was a joy to watch.

I watched as Silva stormed into the UFC bested middleweight champion Rich Franklin in a way that was so dominant it left people in the crowd silent for a moment. Rich Franklin was far and away the second best middleweight in the UFC when Silva started his title run yet Franklin never had an answer for the Brazilian. It seemed no matter what challenge was put in front of Silva, he had the answer. Even when Silva was on the brink of defeat in his first fight with Chael Sonnen, he somehow found a way to get the win, further cementing his legacy as the greatest of all time.

If the many failed drug tests over the last twelve months left the UFC with a black eye, this positive test result left the promotion with an Anderson Silva-esk broken leg. Now I sit here dumbfounded by these test results. I never thought Silva would become desperate enough to take steroids, injury or not. I never thought Silva would be the big name from the UFC to get popped for juicing. My disappointment is great on this night but more than anything my trust in professional athletes is at an all time low. If it comes out tomorrow that Michael Jordan was a steroid user, I might just start watching 4^th grade youth basketball exclusively. I hope that athletes see the reaction of fans when champions like Anderson Silva break their hearts; I hope they read every post from every kid that can’t believe their hero cheated. I am disappointed and you should be too.