UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva (14-2, 1NC) received his sentencing today from the Nevada State Athletic Commission after submitting a synthetic urine sample preceding his UFC 125 win over Brandon Vera. Last week the Commission changed that result to a “No Contest.”
Sentencing took place Thursday morning in Las Vegas at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building. Silva attended the NSAC’s ruling with his manager, and friend, Eddie Miranda.
Silva received a one year suspension of his license and was fined $33,750 by the NSAC. The suspension begins retroactively from Jan. 1, 2011, and will allow Silva to reapply for a new license beginning Jan. 2, 2012. He was also fined 20% of his $55,000 purse and $20,000 of his $55,000 win bonus.
During the NSAC ruling Silva admitted to taking a prescription steroid, twice for pain, before the fight, and then using synthetic urine he bought online from ClearTest.com in an attempt to pass the pre-fight drug test.
According to MMAjunkie.com, Silva apologized to the commission for his actions, stating that he was “desperate” and did what he did because of the severe pain in his back caused by three-herniated disks. He also stated that he was “completely broke” and that his family needed the money after not fighting for a year.
The NSAC’s response could have been harsher, considering Silva only admitted his guilt till after the results of his “B” sample showed the same results, that the sample was “inconsistent with human urine.”
Vera, who was cut from the UFC following the loss to Silva, has since been reinstated with the top promotion.