Anderson Silva Vows To Keep Fighting Despite Failed Drug Test

Despite having failed another USADA drug test late last year, Anderson Silva has vowed to keep fighting for as long as he possibly can, assuring his fans that, “it’s not over yet.”

Silva had been due to fight Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 222 in Shanghai, China this past November, but the fight was cancelled when it emerged that ‘The Spider’ had been provisionally suspended due to testing positive for an unnamed substance in an out-of-competition test.

Silva previously served a one-year suspension in 2015 after testing positive for steroids, which he claimed had been taken inadvertently via a tainted sexual enhancement drug, and his team are currently investigating how his latest failed test may have occurred ahead of a USADA hearing sometime in 2018.

In the mean time, the 42-year-old former long-time middleweight champion has issued a statement to fans to start 2018 in which he makes it clear that he has no intention of retiring from the sport at this time.

Read his Instagram post in full below.

“

Quando olho esta foto, percebo o quanto Deus me fortalece sempre me dando luz na minha caminhada. Em uma longa viagem, lembranças fantásticas do tempo em que brincava nas ruas do bairro onde cresci em Curitiba. Tudo que passei, tudo que consegui construir com força de vontade, com determinação e muita honra. Tive o previlégio de colocar o brasão do meu time do coração, de uma certa forma, dar um título mundial pra ele e principalmente, pro meu povo. Só tenho a agradecer a todos vocês por tudo, digo de coração, amo vocês todos que sempre estão me dando forças. Beijo! Amo vocês de verdade, força e honra a todos, independente de time, cor, raça, religião e opção sexual, somos todos irmãos. Obrigado meu povo! Podem ter certeza que ainda não acabou. Meu amor e minha paixão pela luta estão aqui, firmes e fortes. A luta continua, vou parar quando DEUS achar que não dá mais. Então quem é meu fã, pode ter certeza, que logo estou de volta, pra alegria dos que torcem por mim e pra tristeza dos que não kkkkkk beijo . When I look at this photo, I realize how much God strengthens me by always giving me light in my walk. On a long trip, fantastic memories of the time I played in the streets of the neighborhood where I grew up in Curitiba. Everything I've been through, everything I've built with willpower, determination and great honor. I had the privilege of putting the coat of my heart team, in a way, to give a world title to him and especially to my people. I just have to thank you all for everything, I say from my heart, I love you all who are always giving me strength. Kiss! I really love you, strength and honor to all, regardless of team, color, race, religion and sexual choice, we are all brothers. Thank you, my people! You can be sure it's not over yet. My love and my passion for the fight are here, firm and strong. The fight continues, I will stop when GOD thinks I can not do it anymore. So who is my fan, can be sure, that soon I'm back, to the joy of those who cheer for me and to the sadness of those who don’t kkkkkk kiss

A post shared by Anderson "The Spider" Silva (@spiderandersonsilva) on Jan 7, 2018 at 6:06am PST