UFC
Thiago Silva admits to using "urine adulterant" for UFC 125 drug test, will accept any and all punishment from the NSAC
Mar 30, 2011 - 12:55:39 PM Thiago Silva admits to using "urine adulterant" for UFC 125 drug test, will accept any and all punishment from the NSAC

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Thiago Silva submitted an altered urine sample to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his drug test for his bout with Brandon Vera at UFC 125, and the Commission on Tuesday revealed that it was "inconsistent with human urine." Silva has now released a statement, and has admitted his wrong-doing, saying he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the NSAC.

Here is Silva in his own words:

"We make decisions every day of our lives. Some are good and some are bad. When you make a bad decision, you can either make the situation worse by trying to cover it up or lie about it or just stick your head in the sand and refuse to acknowledge it even happened or you can own up to it with an honest explanation, accept the consequences of your actions, apologize to the people affected by it, learn from it and move on. I'm choosing the second option.

I used a urine adulterant when giving a sample following my fight with Brandon Vera. I did so in an attempt to alter the results of the test and knowingly broke the rules of the Nevada Athletic Commission. This was a terrible decision on my part for which I will be punished. I am prepared to accept this punishment, learn from it and move on. I apologize to the Commission, the UFC, Brandon Vera and the MMA fans.

I do want to explain the circumstances behind my actions. Please do not interpret this as an attempt to justify my actions. I know they were wrong and I know I made bad decisions and I know I deserve to be punished. That is why I began my statement with an admission and an apology before going into these details. This is not an excuse, only an explanation.

I had been tested on five prior occasions while fighting for the UFC before the Brandon Vera fight. Four of the tests were urine only and one included a blood sample as well in New Jersey the day before the fight. I passed each of those tests. I suffered a severe back injury shortly before the Rashad Evans fight. It was the biggest fight of my career and there was no way I was going to pull out of it. I fought and lost and was out of action for a year rehabilitating the injury and getting ready to fight again.

I reinjured my back 45 days before the fight with Brandon Vera. After not fighting for a year, I made the decision to not pull out of the fight. I also decided that the only way I could continue with the fight was to take injections in my back and spine that contained substances prohibited by the Nevada Athletic Commission. I also made the decision to use a product to hide the presence of these substances in a urine test.

These decisions were mine and mine alone. I did not share this information with anyone prior to the fight for fear that I would not be allowed to fight. I obviously made a terrible decision. I have since learned that it may have even been possible to fight had I been open and honest and disclosed the injury and treatment prior to the fight. I also realize that not being allowed to fight as a result of the treatment would have been a better result than the mess into which I have now gotten myself.

Again, I take full responsibility for making the decision to break the rules and try to cheat the system. I will accept the punishment I receive and will learn from this. I plan to come back as a better person and professional as a result."

Penick's Analysis: An admission after the fact is much better than a denial, and it's good that he's owning up to it and accepting the punishment coming his way. At the same time, this is one of those situations where you ask "is he sorry or just sorry he got caught?" Had the test not caught that it had been altered, and had Silva gotten off without getting flagged no one would have known what he did. Still, admitting his wrong-doing and accepting punishment is more honorable than attempting to deny it when he's been caught. He cheated, he got caught, he'll be punished, and he'll have this stigma on him in the future. How this affects his spot in the UFC remains to be seen, but if history is any indication there won't be any added ramifications from the UFC.

[Thiago Silva art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]