Anderson Silva Tested Positive for Anabolic Steroid Prior to UFC 183 Main Event

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Anderson Silva tested positive for drostanolone metabolites during an out-of-competition drug test ahead of his UFC 183 bout with Nick Diaz, according to a statement released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Although the test was administered on Jan. 9, the UFC’s statement claims that it was not notified of the result until Tuesday. Drostanolone is an anabolic steroid. UFC fighters who have recently tested positive for drostanolone include Kevin Casey, Brian Ortega and Piotr Hallmann.

Additionally, NAC Executive Director Bob Bennett informed MMAFighting.com that traces of androsterone, an endogenous steroid hormone, were also found in Silva’s system. The NAC is expected to conduct further testing to confirm Silva’s preliminary results; no punishment has been set for the ex-middleweight champion. The 39-year-old Brazilian had never previously failed a drug test during his UFC tenure.

Silva was out of action for more than a year after suffering a gruesomely broken leg in a loss to Chris Weidman at UFC 168. He returned to the Octagon this past Saturday at UFC 183, taking a five-round unanimous verdict over Diaz in the evening’s main event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“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,” the statement read. "The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by its athletes."