Anderson Silva, a prominent figure in the world of mixed martial arts, has expressed that the termination of the partnership between the UFC and USADA could have positive effects. In an interview on the Flow podcast, “The Spider” shared his belief that drug testing protocols should be more flexible, recommending it be limited to the week leading up to a fight. Silva reasoned, “If it’s an Olympic sport, it has to be there. I think the UFC shouldn’t be so strict.” He went on to argue that the training undergone by MMA athletes differs significantly from other sports. Silva believes relaxed protocols would not mean a drastic shift in performance but better health for the athletes.
Silva’s career, however illustrious, was somewhat marred by two failed anti-doping tests while he was in the UFC. The first was back in 2015, where his UFC 183 victory was discredited and he was suspended for a year, an outcome he argued was caused by a tainted sexual stimulant from Thailand. The second incidence was in 2017 when he was preparing for a round against Kelvin Gastelum. Silva got a reduced one-year sanction from USADA, who concluded that his failed test was due to a contaminated supplement he had consumed.
After retiring from MMA in 2020, Silva ventured into professional boxing. His MMA career finished after facing a knockout by Uriah Hall during UFC Fight Night 181. However, the athlete did not hang up his gloves for good and instead shifted to boxing. Since his retirement, he competed thrice in the boxing ring. Silva earned victories over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz, though he endured defeat at the hands of Jake Paul.