Brazilian middleweight Bruno Silva received a two-year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for the steroid boldenone prior to a scheduled bout with Deron Winn at UFC Greenville in June 2019, his manager told MMA Fighting.
Bernardo Serale, Silva’s rep, said they believe in Silva’s innocence and will do everything in their power to prove it. He declined to go into further detail about the fighter’s defense strategy.
USADA hasn’t made any formal announcement regarding Silva’s case, and a request for comment was acknowledged but not responded to. According to the anti-doping agency’s official website, Silva has been tested 10 times since signing with the UFC.
If the two-year ban stands, the Brazilian will be close to turning 32 by the time he’s cleared to fight again in 2021.
Silva, nicknamed “Blindado,” was set to make his Octagon debut against undefeated wrestler Winn in South Carolina. The bout came seven months after he won the M-1 Global middleweight championship in Russia. He was removed from the card after a failed drug test.
When MMA Fighting first reported Silva’s failed drug test, the UFC fighter released a statement guaranteeing he was innocent.
“I know, without a doubt, that I did everything according to the standards established by USADA,” Silva wrote on June 21, 2019. “I have faith in USADA that this situation will be resolved in a timely manner and that I will be cleared of any wrongdoing. For all my fans and supporters, thank you. I assure you that I did not disappoint you.”
Source: MMAfighting.com
