Anderson Silva assures fans of innocence after failed dope test
Friday 20 February 2015 18:49, UK
UFC star Anderson Silva has protested his innocence in the wake of a failed dope test.
Silva has been temporarily suspended after he was one of three fighters to have failed dope tests last month.
The former UFC middleweight champion has since broken his silence and insisted he is not a "cheater" and "never used any substances" to improve his performances.
Silva beat Nick Diaz on January 31 in his return to the cage after breaking his left leg 13 months ago.
However, results show the 39-year-old failed one test before and one after his victory over Diaz, who has also been suspended over a failed test.
"I don't know what to apologise for, because I am still waiting for the results and analysis from the specialists that are working to reveal the truth," Silva said in a statement published on his Instagram account.
"Everything that I took since my injury are being analysed. I look for the truth as much as all those who were surprised with the results. I always played clean, I was never a cheater.
"I think that the hurry some people have to condemn me is unfair," Silva added. "The time it takes to destroy a reputation is infinitely less than that is taken to build it. I want those who have always supported me to know that I am still fighting for all the sad happenings of this situation to be cleared."
Silva insisted during his 18-year career he never failed any doping tests.
"In and out of the octagon I never slipped in compliance with the principles that always guided me. With much honour and dignity I defended my country where ever I fought," Silva said. "I never used any substances to better my performance in my fights."
Diaz and Hector Lombard were the other two high-profile fighters temporary suspended by UFC this week, prompting the world's leading MMA promotion to announce the launch of a multimillion-dollar anti-doping plan in which all fighters will be subject to random performance-enhancing drug testing beginning in July.
