Yesterday, on Monday June 17th, the Nevada State Commission met, and the UFC fighters Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen and Vanderlei Silva were all on the agenda due to their alleged use of PEDs. Well, needless to say, things did not go well for the fighters, or for the PR machine that is the UFC.
The big overall news is that the UFC’s Middleweight division just lost a lot of talent. Sonnen took a bit of the sting out of his suspension by retiring late last week, and he is planning an appeal based on medical reason. Suffice it to say that Sonnen has lawyers and doctors willing to back his case, so though he is retired and suspended, he knows he is arguing for TRT with a commission that knows less than he on the subject, and he will likely be back in a year or two.
Silva took a lawyer and he admitted to the commission that he avoided the drug test by skipping out on a commission official at his Las Vegas gym. Apparently, Chael Sonnen was right, Silva ran from the test and the commission! Chael must firmly believe that you do not run from failed tests, you retire like a man before they suspend you.
Silva however, did not have a punishment meted out by the commission, though one is expected to be handed out. Perhaps, since he does not have a history of failed tests, Silva may get off with a light suspension, though UFC President Dana White was certainly willing to throw Silva to the wolves, stating the commission will likely be harsh with the Brazilian slugger.
The UFC, in an attempt to separate themselves from the fighters, is ‘cooperating’ fully, even airing the hearing on UFC Pass so that the press and public can get into the commission meeting directly.
ANd not really mentioned in the mix of all this is Vitor Belfort, the third in the triumvirate of middleweights that have come under scrutiny for their use of TRT. Belfort also has a date with the Nevada State Commission in the coming months.
Here is something to put odds on – all three of them, Sonnen, Belfort and Silva, will all likely fight for the UFC again after all this hubub dies down, because they just dont care.
