Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz test positive for banned substances

THE self-proclaimed fastest-growing sport in the world has been plunged into turmoil after the downfall of its biggest star.

UFC 183: Silva v Diaz

UFC 183 was supposed to go down as one of the biggest nights of the year with the return of former pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, but now the event has been marred following positive drug tests returned for both fighters from the main event.

UFC officials were informed on Tuesday that Silva tested positive for Drostanolone metabolites — an anabolic steroid — in a pre-fight drug test administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on January 9.

According to a statement from the UFC, the commission will do further testing on the sample to confirm a positive result from the initial positive result.

Nick Diaz (left) takes a kick from Anderson Silva at UFC 183.

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“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,” UFC officials said in a statement released on Tuesday.

“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.”

News of the positive test results were first reported by Yahoo! and confirmed by the LA Times’ Lance Pugmire.

Nevada commission's Bob Bennett confirms @SpiderAnderson tests positive for two anabolic steroids and that @nickdiaz209 did for marijuana.

— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) February 4, 2015

This is the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career that spans nearly 18 years and 40 fights that Silva has tested positive for any banned substances.

The commission will meet next on February 17 where they will likely hand down a temporary suspension against Silva until a full hearing can be held at a later date.

The news comes just weeks after current pound for pound champion Jon Jones was admitted to rehab after testing positive for cocaine.

It has drawn a shocked, and in most cases angry, response from some of the sport’s fighters.

Sad that Anderson silva tested positive for steroids. Although in hindsight, I'm not surprised. I'm too naive. #any1notcheatingbesidesme

— michael (@bisping) February 4, 2015

WoW! @ufc has a lot of explaining to do. #SAD day in the ufc world. Crazy how Dana can control if they fight or not.The mighty dollar! LOL

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 4, 2015

Why the fuck did Anderson get to fight? It's a seriously dangerous sport that could cause serious trauma #DontBeScaredHomie

— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) February 4, 2015

So did NSAC get ASilvas test results back BEFORE his fight and let him fight? I'm confused?

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) February 4, 2015

What's the point of doing pre fight testing (as in 1/9) if you don't get the results back until after the fight? Rush that shit to the lab

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) February 4, 2015

Silva has a 34-6 mixed martial arts record.

As for Diaz — according to the initial Yahoo! report, he tested positive for marijuana metabolites in a post fight drug test administered by commission officials after his bout against Silva on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

This is the third occasion where Diaz has tested positive for marijuana during his career.

The first time happened when Diaz fought Takanori Gomi in PRIDE back in 2007 and he received a six-months suspension.

Diaz tested positive again following his welterweight title fight against Carlos Condit in 2012 and was then handed a one-year suspension for the second offence.

This third test result could land Diaz in serious hot water again considering it’s the same drug he’s been busted for in the past as well as new testing standards set forth by the Nevada State Athletic Commission more recently.

The commission voted to raise the legal limits for athletes in regards to marijuana to 150 ng/mL, which is the same standard set forth by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The new rules tripled the legal limits from the testing thresholds when Diaz was popped the first two times in his career.

There’s been no official statement on Diaz’s positive test from the UFC as of yet.

Diaz was banged up in a unanimous decision loss to Silva.