Anderson Silva would no doubt prefer that nobody brought up the fact that he’s spent the last year on the sidelines due to a steroid suspension, but his next opponent, Michael Bisping is making sure that it’s something that’s not going to just be swept under the rug.
“How on earth do you expect me not to mention that in your last fight you tested positive for three banned substances?” Bisping asked during a UFC Fight Night 83 media call with Silva yesterday ahead of their clash in London, England on February 27th. “You expect me to not mention that? That’s very, very relevant. So of course I want him to be tested. The fact that he wants me to not mention that, to brush it under the carpet, I’m blown away by his arrogance.”
Silva tried to his best not to rise to the bait.
“This is in the past now,” Silva said. “Some people will continue talking about it, but I don’t care. Some things will be solved inside (the Octagon), as always. I don’t like to talk too much, to promote (a fight) with talking. I like to go there and do my job. The result is the same, you can win or lose. And that’s what I’m going to do.”
Bisping appeared to be particularly perturbed by the fact that Silva is still maintaining his innocence regarding his use of the banned steroids, drostanolone and androstane, but despite the former middleweight champion is sticking to his guns in that regard while also confirming that he’s willing to go to any measures to prove that he’s not using performance enhancing drugs for his upcoming fight.
“I’m ready to be tested at any moment,” Silva stated. “I’m not perfect, I’m not a saint. I really made a mistake by taking a substance that was tainted. I never intended to expose my personal life to clear the facts the way I did. I never took any kind of steroid. My lawyer and the guy that tested the supplements I took were not able to prove the truth. My suspension is coming to an end. I made a mistake and I’m paying for it. I’m ready to fight again, and I’m happy about it.
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, can think what they want. I’m ready to be tested. They can test me everyday leading up to the fight. Unfortunately, some people will think I’m a cheater and others won’t, but the important thing in all of this is my conscience. There’s no lie in this sport. You can’t lie in there.”
However, Bisping has made it clear that he’s not willing to take Silva’s word for it.
“The fact of the matter is Anderson Silva tested positive for not one, not two, but three banned substances,” Bisping said. “While I respect him as a fighter, I’ve got to say, I lost a lot of respect for him for that. This fight represents me beating all those people who want to cheat the system. I have never taken a performance-enhancing drug in my life. Anybody that does should be ashamed.
“To call yourself a martial artist and then take a performance-enhancing drug is the biggest contradiction you could ever make. He should be ashamed of himself, and I feel this should be talked about more. I want to be tested throughout camp. I hope that happens, and I hope Anderson is tested.”
