Anderson Silva tested positive for steroids in an examination conducted on Jan. 9, but samples taken on Jan. 19 reportedly yielded negative results, MMA Fighting first reported.
MMA Fighting got the result of Silva's second out-of-competition from the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday, confirming that the former UFC middleweight champion came out clean of performance enhancing drugs.
The result of the second drug test came less than a week after reports confirmed that traces of drostanolone and androstane were found in Silva's urine sample before his win against Nick Diaz at UFC 183, which was his first fight since recovering from a gruesome leg injury.
Silva, who won via unanimous decision against Diaz, was suspended and is facing sanction from NSAC, which will be determined after a hearing on March or April.
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMA fighting that he is unsure how the negative results will affect the penalty that will be handed to Silva.
"I can't speak for the chairman or be presumptuous in any way or comment on that," Bennett said of the possibility of having a lighter penalty for Silva. "It's not my position."
Bennett added, though, that they were extremely happy with the result of the second examination. He said that it is good news for the sport and Silva, who is considered by many as the greatest mixed martial arts champion of all time after dominating the UFC middleweight division before losing to Chris Weidman twice in 2013.
Silva, who successfully defended the UFC middleweight title 10 times from 2006-2012, denied using any banned substance before his fight against Diaz. The 39-year-old insisted that he is an advocate for clean sport.
"This is my 19th fight in the UFC. I have been thoroughly tested many times and have never had a positive test," Silva said in a statement released by manager Ed Soares to the public. "I have not taken any performance enhancing drugs. My stance on drugs is and will always be the same."
Silva's camp also added that they believe there was contamination or the laboratory that tested the samples made a critical mistake, which was the reason why they asked that Silva's "B" sample be examined as well.
