Anderson Silva was initially set to go toe-to-toe with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 122. However, Silva was pulled from the headliner slot after failing a drug test. This made for the former middleweight champion’s second failed drug test within his mixed martial arts career. After a failed drug test back in 2015, Silva’ fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 was turned into a no contest.
Now fighters and fans are voicing their thoughts on the recent failed dug test of “The Spider.” Former featherweight champion Jose Aldo recently revealed that he believes the fighter’s legacy may be tarnished permanently by the test failure.
As provided by Flo Combat, Aldo told Brazilian media at Nova União gym in Rio de Janeiro:
“I’m very careful.” Jose Aldo told the media earlier. “It’s a whole career, and a lot of fans and journalists now say that Anderson was not a champion because he has always been a guy who cheated.
“Whether or not it will [tarnish Silva’s legacy in the long run], he’s an idol for us. But in the eyes of the fans, after being caught twice, I think that could condemn and devalue his career, which, for me, was one of the best.”
“It’s difficult for Anderson to talk about whether or not he is [doping]. He’s a benchmark in the sport, an idol, for me and for MMA lovers. I can’t say much because I don’t know [the case]. I know he has the same doctor as I do, and I don’t think he could’ve taken something to improve his performance.
“He’s much more innocent than guilty, but we have to wait. [The same goes for Nogueira], fighters sometimes [injure themselves] and want to medicate themselves without consulting a doctor. In addition, USADA changes the substances that are considered doping a lot.”
