Report: Anderson Silva will admit PED usage was for healing broken leg

Amidst the hoopla of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 184 pay-per-view (PPV) event tonight (Sat., Feb. 28, 2015) live from the Staples Center in California (results here), UFC broke the news that former longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva plans on admitting using performance enhancing drugs (PED) in order to heal his broken leg sustained in his fight against Chris Weidman at UFC 168.

So much for "always playing clean" Anderson.

"The Spider" returned to the Octagon after one of the most gruesome injuries the sport has ever seen when he defeated Nick Diaz via unanimous decision at UFC 183 last month. In what was supposed to be a historic night for mixed martial arts (MMA), turned out to be one of the biggest black eyes in the sport's young history when it was revealed Silva had tested positive for drostanolone and androstane in a pre-fight UFC 183 drug test.

Silva immediately denied taking any such substances, but when it was revealed he failed his post-fight UFC 183 drug test as well, it quickly became evident the former champ had a lot of explaining to do.

In a follow-up statement on his Instagram, the Brazilian vowed to be exonerated during due process, and noted that "everything that I took since my injury are being analyzed."

Well, UFC just reported (via UOL) that Silva plans on admitting using PED's to heal his broken leg when he faces the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) at his disciplinary hearing in March.

From UFC:

The Nevada State Athletic Commission disciplinary hearing for former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva does not have a set date in March, but according to a story published by Brazilian website UOL on Saturday, the MMA icon and his team are preparing his defense, with Silva reportedly planning to admit to using several banned substances.

The report makes clear that Silva will insist that his use of performance enhancing drugs wasn't to gain an advantage on his opponent, but rather as an aid in his recovery from the broken leg suffered in his December 2013 loss to Chris Weidman. Lawyers will also argue that the amount of the substances found in his system were minimal, thus giving him no advantage over his January 31 opponent, Nick Diaz.

"The Spider" is currently on a temporary suspension from the NSAC until his disciplinary hearing, and it is also expected that his decision victory over Diaz will be overturned to a no contest.

It seems the story has just begun to really play out in the Anderson Silva PED saga.

For more on Silva's failed tests, follow along with our story stream right here.