UFC middleweight Bruno Silva has been suspended for six months for a “likely unintentional” drug testing violation.
UFC’s drug testing partner, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), announced Friday that Silva tested positive for 3a-hydroxy-2a-methyl-5a-androstan-17-one, a metabolite of drostanolone, in an out-of-competition sample he submitted to Drug-Free Sport International (DFSI) on April 11, 2024. “Brindado” also submitted negative samples on March 30 (the day of his last fight), April 30 and June 14 before he was notified of his failure.
“Because Silva’s positive sample also contained extremely low concentrations of banned substances, the CSAD concluded that the Brazilian had not injected drostanolone and was likely exposed to a contaminant. This conclusion, together with Silva’s cooperation throughout the process, led to his doping violation being deemed “likely unintentional.”
This is Silva’s first drug violation under CSAD, although he was previously suspended for two years by UFC’s former anti-doping partner USADA for testing positive for boldenone in 2019. However, CSAD believes this is Silva’s first violation because it disagrees with USADA’s position on the possible presence of boldenone in Brazilian meat, cream and supplements.
Silva is currently in a three-fight slump and has a UFC record of 4-5. “Blind” lost a technical decision to Chris Weidman in March of this year when the bout was stopped at 2 minutes 18 seconds into the third round due to multiple pokes to the eyes by Weidman.
