Dana White compares Anderson Silva's doping with that of Lance Armstrong, but does not rule out a return

Dana White (right) analyzed the Spider (left) doping case. Photo: Reproduction

As the preliminary hearing of Anderson Silva taking place one day before the press conference called by the UFC to discuss the organization's new anti-doping policies, it was expected that the Brazilian's case would be raised during the event. Asked about the episode involving Spider, who was caught twice in exams carried out before and after the fight against Nick Diaz, president Dana White compared the Brazilian with cyclist Lance Armstrong, seven-time champion of the “Volt de France” and who was a key point in the entire anti-doping policy in the sport being reformulated.

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"Anderson Silva it was the turning point, like Lance Armstrong was in cycling. What happened to him forced the process to accelerate, we cannot accommodate ourselves after something like this happens. When a guy like Anderson Silva gets caught, that certainly sends a message. This shocked me. We were completely shocked by what happened”, commented the director.

Despite this, Dana did not close the door on Anderson returning to the Octagon and made it clear that the organization's stance is to await the outcome of Spider's trial, scheduled for a disciplinary hearing next month. "You never know. We have to see what will happen and what the audience will be like. He has to go through the entire process. There's still a long way to go before we start thinking about Anderson's next fight,” she said.

On February 3rd, a few days after winning Nick Diaz at UFC 183, it was announced that Anderson Silva had tested positive for the anabolic steroids drostanolone and androsterone in a surprise anti-doping test carried out on January 9th. A second examination, carried out on the 19th of the same month, did not show any trace of illegal substances. In the post-fight examination, however, Anderson tested positive again for anabolic steroids and, in addition, also for two anxiolytics, Oxazepam and Temazepam, medicines generally used to combat insomnia and sleep disorders.

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