Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva steroid hearing with CSAC set for Oct. 22

by James Iannotti on Oct 6, 2008 9:08 PM EDT Comment 40 comments

Elite XC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Silva's appeal hearing will take place at the Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles, Calif., on October 22, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. PT. The champ tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone following his win over Justin Eilers to capture the first-ever (and this vacant) strap on July 19.

Since that time "Bigfoot," his management team and American Top Team (ATT) camp have claimed innocence. Here's a statement released from the Brazilian after the test results were revealed:

"Dear Family, Friends, Fans and Public, I did not use the steroid Boldenone, or any other steroid of prohibited substance. I don’t agree and never have agreed with the use of this kind of product in order to win, for this is cheating. I will go to the full extent of my power and the law to prove my innocence in this matter."

Silva's case is based around the fact that he suffers from the medical condition known as Acromegaly, which is more commonly referred to as "Gigantism."

Here's an explanation of the disease given on Wikipedia.com:

"Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (HGH) after epiphyseal plate closure. A number of disorders may be affecting the pituitary to create this circumstance, although most commonly it involves a GH producing tumor derived from a distinct type of cells (somatotrophs) and called pituitary adenoma. Acromegaly most commonly affects adults in middle age and can result in severe disfigurement, serious complicating conditions and premature death if unchecked. Because of its insidious pathogenesis and slow progression, the disease is hard to diagnose in the early stages and is frequently missed for many years, when changes in external features, especially of the face, become noticeable."

Silva's manager Alex Davis maintains that, "It would be completely insensible or even dangerous to make use of any other steroids or substances that could worsen that kind of problem."

We'll find out on October 22 if his argument can stand up in a court of law. Traditionally, the California commission has been one of the toughest states on steroid use, but this sounds like medical proof that he at least would have an abnormal level in his system.

Whether that means he did or did not take anything extra on top of that is for the commission officials to decide.

Elite XC has stood by its champ throughout this difficult time and he was even seen this weekend at "Heat" in Sunrise, Fla., carrying around his championship belt. For now, he remains the company's Heavyweight Champion until the CSAC hands down its final decision.

He faces a 12-month suspension and fine if the finding is upheld.

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Comments

Kimbo got paid 35,714 per second. I suppose that’s more than Tim Sylvia’s 36 second loss to Fedor (22,222 per second)

by Brandon on Oct 6, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, and Bigfoot looks weird

by Brandon on Oct 6, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

took that straight off cage-potato huh? im on to you…

by medecine balls on Oct 6, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely – well I thought it was pretty interesting.

by Brandon on Oct 6, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

definitely interesting, i was just kidding around yo.

by medecine balls on Oct 6, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I find it funny that they use Wikipedia as a source. jajja.

by chris on Oct 6, 2008 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wikipeida is a great legitimate source… It’s a good way to educate fans rather than have a quote from his doctor, because fan haters would say; “Of course! He paid the Doctor to say that!”….. so good move.

by THORAZINE on Oct 7, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course he’s going to need to submit proof of Acromegaly with a doctor and lawyer.

by THORAZINE on Oct 7, 2008 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boldenone is a horse steroid, so his doctor and lawyer may need a little more than that.

by naturalshadow on Oct 7, 2008 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this guys name should be chinoccio not big foot. he’s obviously lying and his chin is a direct result of either lying or steroid use. wonder which one it is though?

by jonsey on Oct 6, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

jonsey – I’m pretty sure they said a few times that his large features are due to gigantism. Do steroids make your features huge? Do athletes ever use HGH to improve performance? I dunno myself, just wondering.

by RyJu on Oct 6, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So this is the first time this issue has come up? Was this the first drug test he has ever taken? If his people knew this then why has it never been mentioned before? You would think that if they knew of a chemical problem with his body they would mention it to the athletic commission. I’m not buying it. Boldenone is a anabolic steroid thats been developed for veterinary use and is used mostly to treat horses (most probably know that already). Its the same steroid that Josh Barnett, Phil Baroni, and Stephan Bonner have been suspended for taking. Silva had the tumor removed in August 2007 and this was his third fight since then. So all of a sudden it just pops up in his system? I seriously doubt that. The half life for this steroid is pretty long, so if he was getting a steady stream of this in his system he would be popping positive all the time, not just once.

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 6, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“Because of its insidious pathogenesis and slow progression, the disease is hard to diagnose in the early stages and is frequently missed for many years.”

by tha spida on Oct 6, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its not a question of weather or not he had/has the disease, it’s why he would pop positive a year after the tumor that was causing the disease was removed

by the_mexicutioner on Oct 6, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh’’’ I didn’t know it was removed… good info Mex… yeah’ why would he prove positive then?

by THORAZINE on Oct 7, 2008 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m curious if this could be due to a reoccurrence of the tumor?

by chefdaddy on Oct 7, 2008 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My penis suffers from gigantism.

by Willdogg on Oct 6, 2008 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s not what my mom told me… BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait… I think….. awwwww man!

by Jas on Oct 6, 2008 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by Brandon on Oct 6, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your mom said it wasn’t that his penis suffers from gigantism, but more that his testicles suffer from dwarfism.

by naturalshadow on Oct 7, 2008 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i could care less about this.

by belfort_fan on Oct 6, 2008 10:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You could care less? that means you care about it to a certain degree to where you could, actually, care less about it.

I don’t know why people say that, it should be “I couldn’t care less.”

Because if you could not care any less, well, you wouldn’t care about it very much at all now would you?

by Brandon on Oct 6, 2008 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You care more about the way someone says something rather thanall of the other stuff that your on this site for. get a life and stop worrying about how people pronouns things!!!!

by belfort_fan on Oct 7, 2008 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then don’t comment on it!

by JRK on Oct 7, 2008 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont worry about what i comment on!!!!

by belfort_fan on Oct 7, 2008 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would knock your ass out!!

by belfort_fan on Oct 7, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I guess if he beats his CSAC case he will be set for a match against the dangerous rocky balboa Seth Petruzelli for the BIGGGGGGGGGGEST FIGHT OF THE CENTURY(@#$(#$($#$(

Or maybe not.

I don’t know who Antonio has left to fight in EliteXC except for Brett Rogers then it is basically over for their heavyweight division.

by DirtyML on Oct 6, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget about Pee Wee

by tha spida on Oct 6, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about AA? I’d like to see that… or come to the UFC and fight Gonzaga, Valesquez, or Lesnar

by Harrison on Oct 6, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why should a steroid freak that looks like a horse get to fight Andrei Arlovski?

by RoB on Oct 7, 2008 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

B/c, if AA fights like he did against B.C., Bigfoot would kill him.

by chefdaddy on Oct 7, 2008 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok.. maybe he should take some steroids too then, so they’re fighting at a even level

by RoB on Oct 7, 2008 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gigantism occurs due to a small tumor in the pituitary gland that produces an excess amount of growth hormone during childhood that leads to tall stature. Once the growth plates in bones close and a person reaches their adult height, excess growth hormone causes growth of the bones of the forehead, jaw, hands and feet (called acromegaly), but no further increase in height. Bigfoot is tall due to gigantism, but he may not have been diagnosed and treated until after he reached his adult height, becuase you can see he has pronounced enlarged facial features as well. A physician can look at Bigfoot and know immediately that he has excess growth hormone.

http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/image.do;jsessionid=CF87E1F9346926950F346AA6F2F8CFF1.1003;jsessionid=CF87E1F9346926950F346AA6F2F8CFF1.1003?imageKey=endo_pix/facial_f.htm

Anabolic steroids used by athletes would not cause the facial features seen in Bigfoot. However, some people have pituitary tumors that cause overproduction of multiple hormones that can also stimulate excess steroid production in the body. So it is possible that bigfoot has too much growth hormone and too much of a natural steroid hormone produced by his body. Whether any steroid hormone excess is natural or injected can usually be differentiated by laboratory tests.

by DrPepper on Oct 6, 2008 10:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Again, boldenone is a horse steroid, usually sold in an injectable form called equipoise. I can’t think of any reason that should be found in his body.

by naturalshadow on Oct 7, 2008 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boldenone is not a steroid produced in the human body. Most of it is produced easily in labs by making a slight chemical change in the testosterone molecule.

by DrPepper on Oct 7, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That is one good lookin man.

by Perkins on Oct 7, 2008 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sherk thought about the Gigantism defense for about 2 seconds then realized that at 5’6" there was no way they would buy it.

by Dugout on Oct 7, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LMAO.

by OJR on Oct 7, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hello. This is Antonio’s personal physician, Dr. Bombay and I just wanted to clarify that his positive test result was not from the use of steroids but from his Gigantism. I am an expert in this area as well as in the area of male enchacement and the CSAC will overturn this suspension based on my expert testimony, and the fact that Mr. Silva owns many horses. Yes you can drawn your own conclusions from that statement. This is Dr. Bombay saying size does matter.Have a good day !!