Anderson Silva pulled from fight card after potential USADA violation
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been pulled from his headlining November 25, UFC Fight Night 122 bout with Kelvin Gastelum. The announcement comes after a potential USADA violation by the former champ.
Silva was also fined $380,000 and suspended one year after his bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 was overturned to a no-contest for a violation. Silva maintained that the positive test resulted from a tainted sexual enhancer.
UFC Statement:
“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.”
