One fight, two fighters, two positive drug tests.
Anderson Silva’s first time back in the ring after the infamous kick that broke his leg ended with a victory for him. But that victory might be in jeopardy after his drug test came back positive for anabolic steroids.
And Silva’s defeated opponent, Nick Diaz, won’t likely be celebrating any time soon either. Diaz tested positive for marijuana.
This marks the first time Silva has tested positive for any banned substance since he started fighting 18 years ago. He has been the lead Brazilian to break through UFC and hold the middleweight championship belt.
Both fighters underwent three drug tests before the fight.
The UFC announced Feb. 3 "that Anderson Silva tested positive for drostanolone [a type of steroid] metabolites on his Jan. 9 out of competition drug test," and that "UFC’s understanding is that further testing will be conducted by the commission to confirm these preliminary results," according to ESPN.
Because this is the third marijuana-related offense for Diaz, the UFC ruling might be pretty stern. Just three years ago, he tested positive for marijuana for the second time and was suspended for a year.
Diaz maintains that he is a registered user of medical marijuana to treat his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ESPN reports. This does not, however, exempt him from the UFC’s no-marijuana policy.
According to Washington State University (WSU), marijuana doesn’t enhance athletic performance. Smoking it can, however, reduce lung capacity, increase the heart rate and raise blood pressure. It can also impair physical and mental skills for 24 to 36 hours after use, according to WSU.
Anabolic steroids can, however, enhance athletic performance. Steroids are variants of the male hormone testosterone. They can increase strength and may lead to side effects like aggression, acne and reduced fertility.
The UFC has scheduled a Feb. 17 meeting to decide each fighter’s fate in the UFC. Silva and Diaz are suspended at least until that meeting.
