Thiago Silva is an extremely talented UFC fighter, but he can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
According to a press release by Zuffa officials, Silva failed a post-fight drug test after his light heavyweight fight versus Stanislov Nedkov:
Thiago Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV in Macau.The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Silva has admitted to taking the banned substance and has agreed to participate in an approved drug-rehabilitation program and serve a six-month suspension retroactive to the November 10 event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to fight again.
This is the second time this has happened. After UFC 125 in 2011, Silva got caught submitting a false urine sample. He was forced to forfeit his win over Brandon Vera, was suspended for a year and had to give up 25 percent of his purse, according to Bohn‘s report.
When you look at it that way, six months seems like nothing. For a second-time offender, UFC could have cracked down harder on him to really teach him a lesson. Since he didn’t learn his lesson the first time, that would have been ideal.
Bohn also mentions that rehab isn’t uncommon for UFC lately. Dave Herman was forced to go after testing positive for the same thing last month.
Silva is 14-3-2 in his UFC career. He’s a jiu-jitsu specialist who has picked up 11 knockouts and two submission wins along the way.
Having a good record is nice, but Silva now has two overturned victories attached to his name. That’s a reputation that he will never shake. Couple that with losses to Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida in the past, and it’s hard to tell if this talented fighter will ever get over the hump.
Hopefully for his sake, his stint in rehab, and this suspension, will straighten him out and allow him to reach his full potential in the Octagon.
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