Anderson Silva receives one-year suspension by USADA for contaminated supplement, eligible to return in November

Anderson Silva could soon be back in the Octagon.

The former UFC middleweight champion received a one-year suspension from USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, for his failed drug test in the lead up to his planned UFC Shanghai main event fight against Kelvin Gastelum late last year. The news was first reported by ESPN, and was later announced by USADA.

USADA deemed Silva’s positive drug test, collected on Oct. 26, 2017, to have come from a contaminated supplement. Silva tested positive for methyltestosterone metabolites and hydrochlorothiazide.

The contaminated supplements came from a Brazilian compounding pharmacy. The pharmacy, which prepared Silva’s supplement, didn’t have any of the prohibited substances listed on the supplement label. USADA conducted independent testing through a WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City and confirmed that there was methyltestosterone and hydrochlorothiazide in the product Silva took.

Silva’s suspension is retroactive to Nov. 10, 2017, the day that his one-year period of eligibility began, meaning the Silva will be able to return to the Octagon after Nov. 10, 2018.

Silva, 43, hopes to resume his fighting career.

“I am vindicated,” Silva said in a statement given to ESPN by Silva’s team. “The past nine months have been extremely difficult. I felt like my career and everything I had worked so hard for was dying and my future was hanging in the balance. I knew in my heart that I had done nothing wrong and fully cooperated with USADA during their inquiry to prove it. Today I have a renewed energy. My legacy is restored. I can focus on getting back into the ring and the next chapter of my life after fighting.”

This isn’t Silva’s first time having issues with drug tests. Back in January 2015, before the UFC partnered with USADA, the Brazilian super star failed a drug test for the steroids drostanolone and androsterone in an in-competition test for his fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 183. Silva was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for one year.

Silva remains one of the most dominant champions in UFC history and he’s considered by many one of the greatest fighters of all time. “The Spider” last fought in February 2017 where he defeated Derek Brunson via unanimous decision. Prior to the Brunson win, Silva was 0-4 and one no contest (originally a decision win, but overturned due to his failed drug test) in his MMA career, which snapped his impressive 17-fight win streak and had him lose his UFC middleweight belt.