Anderson Silva suspended one year, heavily fined by NSAC for UFC 183 positive drug test

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva appeared before Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) earlier today (Thurs., Aug. 13, 2015) to answer for a couple of failed drug tests in the wake of his UFC 183 win over Nick Diaz.

For a complete background on his drug-test fiasco click here.

Silva was popped for steroids following last January's pay-per-view (PPV) event, then came back dirty for oxazepam and temazepam in follow-up tests. His attorneys were expected to argue that conflicting medication for sexual performance -- as well as inconsistencies in the exam -- were enough to exonerate "The Spider."

Not quite.

Facts laid forth by Nevada Deputy Attorney General Chris Eccles:

--Jan. 9 first test, positive for two exogenous steroids: drostanolone and methylandrostane. Findings were not contested by Silva or his attorneys, who did not request testing of B-sample (which came up positive anyway).

--Jan. 31 fight night test: positive for drostanolone metabolite.

--Claims of supplement being responsible for positive drostanolone result problematic because supplement in question not included on pre-fight disclosure. In addition, admission of using contaminated supplement enough to make a finding.

--Defense claims supplement was tested and found to include banned substance, but failed to provide Eccles with any documentation or proof of testing.

--Discredits "expert" provided by Team Silva.

Defense laid forth by Team Silva:

--Attorney Michael Alonso repping the Brazilian.

--Paul Scott (of Lance Armstrong fame) brought in as "expert" witness.

--Deny willingly, knowingly, or intentionally taking anabolic steroids.

--Claim that Jan. 19 drug test that came back negative establishes inconsistency.

--Alonso claims sexual supplement they tested returned positive for drostanolone but not drostanolone metabolites.

--Admits to using temazepam and oxazepam (for anxiety and back pain) found in the Jan. 9 test.

--Silva admits to taking a "form of Cialis" that you can only get in Thailand. In addition, it was a clear liquid in a blue vial that "he got from a friend" (not kidding).

After hearing from both sides, which frankly was an embarrassment for Team Silva since they could not produce any paperwork, could not identify the "sexual performance" supplement in question, and basically relied on an oral history of bro science, NSAC suspended him for 12 months from the date of the Diaz fight (Jan. 31, 2015).

In addition, he will be forced to forfeit his $200,000 win bonus and will be docked 30-percent of his $600,000 purse (ouch). Finally, his unanimous decision win over Diaz has been changed to a "no contest."

All in all, it was a total gong show, but at least we had this:

Silva is locked into a longterm contract with the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion and expects to compete once his suspension is served. While the Brazilian has called for a rematch against Diaz, that's unlikely to happen because of this.

Is normal.