Anderson Silva
Brazil's former national soccer player Djalminha (R) talks to former striker and member of the 2014 World Cup local organizing committee Ronaldo (2nd L) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Anderson Silva (2nd R), during the men's singles final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and David Nalbandian of Argentina at the Brazil Open tennis tournament in Sao Paulo February 17, 2013. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, has reportedly blocked the payment of $6 million to middleweight fighter Anderson Silva due to his failed drug test. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in an out of competition random test conducted last January in connection with his UFC 183 fight against Nick Diaz. The $6 million amount is composed of his fight purse of $600,000, his bonus of $200,000 for winning the bout and the pay-per-view shares.

Aside from the monies that are held back, Silva is also facing sanctions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), the overturning of his win into a no contest and any other actions from the UFC. Silva’s drug controversy has also prompted Georges St.-Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi to compare the renowned fighter to cycling’s Lance Armstrong.

The 39-year-old is widely considered the greatest fighter of all time but the recent controversy has put a strong doubt into all of his accomplishments. ”The Spider” held the middleweight title for seven years and posted the record of most successful consecutive title defence at 10 before recording consecutive losses to current champion Chris Weidman. Zahabi told La Presse in Montreal, Canada that the PED scandal of Silva is bad for the sport and that his fall from grace is similar to Armstrong.

"It's horrible for the sport," Zahabi told La Presse (translated by MMA Fighting). "Lance Armstrong has not helped the sport of cycling. A lot of people were inspired by his story and afterwards we find out that it's a lie. Here, we're going through something similar in our sport." .

Silva has denied that he has used PEDs in his entire career but the positive results for drostanolone and androstane in a Jan. 9 out of testing competition conducted by the NSAC has put to question all of his achievements. St.-Pierre’s coach even went to as far as saying that the controversy puts his ward as the lone fighter in the greatest of all time conversation and that the UFC has to drop Silva given that he is bad example for aspiring fighters and the youth in general.

For concerns on this story, contact the author at v.hidalgo@ibtimes.com.au.

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