Anderson Silva denies steroid usage prior to UFC 183: 'I wouldn’t want to tarnish my image'

Yet another mammoth UFC pay-per-view (PPV) has been rocked by scandal thanks in part to another failed drug test. Just about a month after UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones' test revealed "Bones" tested positive for a cocaine metabolite, the former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva tested positive for two performance enhancing drugs following his victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 183.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) tested "The Spider" for banned substances on Jan. 9, 2015, but only received the results yesterday, which allowed Silva to compete in the UFC 183 main event against Diaz on Jan. 31, 2015.

A day after his failed test, Silva is denying ever taking drostanolone and androstane in a statement through his doctor Marcio Tannure, who is also the medical director of the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA).

From MMAFighting:

"Anderson told me he's disappointed, upset because he didn't use steroids. He will ask for the confirmation test because he believes the only explanation is a contamination or a mistake from the lab. He told me: ‘I have an impeccable career history and I wouldn't want to tarnish my image.'"

"It's too soon to judge. He has the right to a confirmation test and two other results. The Nevada Athletic Commission hasn't talked yet, and the press is already judging him. The process isn't over yet. If the whole process was already over, he would have already been suspended."

Is Silva's legacy already tarnished?

As of now, "The Spider" is expected to make an appearance at a Feb. 17 NSAC meeting. Ultimately, the Brazilian will likely be handed some sort of suspension at that time, and then a more in-depth hearing will take place in March or April, according to NAC chairman Francisco Aguilar.