Bigfoot Silva: Brazil's testosterone ban a 'political' move from a doctor who was 'never against TRT'

Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) handed down a landmark ruling back on Feb. 27, 2014, banning the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in mixed martial arts (MMA), which forced a major shake up to the UFC 173 main event.

Get all the gory details here and here.

Less than 24 hours later, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) followed suit, vowing to no longer issue a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for the controversial treatment. The timing -- as well as the stance -- was not coincidental, according to comments UFC heavyweight Antonio Silva made to Yahoo! Brazil (via Bloody Elbow):

"The way I see it, he wants to play the good guy role. He's just being political because he was never against TRT. But I don't judge him. Everybody likes Dr. Tannure, he is a great person. He made a mistake with me and I was upset because he hasn't admitted it. But I understand why he didn't, he is in charge of CABMMA, he is Flamengo's (the most popular soccer team in Brazil) doctor, a lot of famous people have appointments with him. If he had admitted it, his image would be damaged."

Tannure is the medical director for CABMMA.

He's also the man who was called out by Silva last December, thanks to a failed drug test that had "Bigfoot" over the testosterone limit. The Brazilian claimed Tannure authorized an additional dose of TRT prior to his UFC Fight Night 33 main event, one that caused him to flunk his exam.

Tannure insists he's not -- nor has he ever been -- Silva's doctor.

Silva, who was suspended for nine months following the infraction, has been taking testosterone for years to help combat his acromegaly, which at one point was so bad, was causing the former EliteXC heavyweight champion to lactate.

Yuck.