Thiago Silva suspended one year by the NSAC, fined $37,500 for admitted steroid use into UFC 125 bout

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has handed down their punishment to Thiago Silva following his admission of steroid use and submitting a doctored urine sample for his victory over Brandon Vera at UFC 125.

In a commission hearing on Thursday, Silva was handed down a suspension of 12 months, beginning from the date of the fight. His license revocation last until January 1, 2012. In addition to the suspension, Silva was fined $37,500 and his victory was overturned to a "no contest."

According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Silva admitted to twice taking a prescription steroid that was administered by a doctor with an epidural in his back. Per Silva, the injections were administered 45 days prior to the January 1 bout and 30 days prior. Silva cited needing the money for his family for deliberately deceiving the commission.

"I just want to apologize for what I did," Silva said at the hearing. "I did what I did because my back was very, very bad a couple months (before the fight). I had not fought for one year. I was completely broke. I have a family. People depend on my money. I was desperate to do something.

"I know what I did is wrong. Like I said, I'm so sorry. I had my reasons. People depend on my money, and I had to give them support."

Silva made $55,000 for the fight, along with a win bonus of $55,000 for the victory. Commissioners initially looked to take back Silva's win bonus along with a third of his "to show" purse, however, citing his "candor and honesty" a 25% take from his "show" money and a $20,000 reduction of his win bonus was settled on.

Silva can reapply for a license on January 2 of next year, at which time he must also provide a clean urine sample.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: They went easy on him both with the fines and the suspensions. He came clean when it was clear he was caught, even though he initially claimed he had nothing to hide when his "B" sample needed to be scrutinized. Still, he didn't fight it, didn't try to lie his way out of the situation as Chael Sonnen did with the CSAC in order to get his suspension reduced, and explained his mistake to them at the hearing. It's not a slap on the wrist, as he lost out on money and the ability to make more during the year, but he did get off lighter than he could have.

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

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8996.shtml

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