• UFC

Wanderlei Silva banned by Nevada state commission

Wanderlei Silva announced his retirement last week and blamed the UFC © Getty Images

Enlarge

The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban mixed martial artist Wanderlei Silva from ever competing in the state again, after he avoided a random drug test on May 24 in Las Vegas.

Silva, 38, who announced his retirement from professional fighting last week, will appeal the ruling in district court, according to his attorney Ross Goodman. Goodman argued the NSAC does not have jurisdiction to discipline Silva because he was not licenced at the time of the test.

"Absolutely," Goodman said. "If I had the transcript [of Tuesday's hearing], I'd be filing the appeal tomorrow."

The $70,000 (£42,000) fine was based on taking 35% of Silva's fight purse, which was estimated according to previous purses.

"It's a matter of principle. [The NSAC] has no jurisdiction and they recognise they have no jurisdiction. The answer from the attorney general was weak to say the best, based on nonsensical rules that are very black and white. I look forward to appealing it before an unbiased judge, who will readily see you have to be a licensee."

Silva (35-12-1) was scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen at UFC 175 on July 5. On May 24, the NSAC ordered Silva to submit a random blood and urine test in Las Vegas. An independent collector sent to take Silva's sample testified on June 18 he met Silva at a gym in Las Vegas, where Silva snuck out a back exit when he was informed of the test.

During that June hearing, Silva admitted to skipping out on the test and said he did so because he had diuretics, which are a banned substance, in his system. Silva said he was taking the substances to deal with inflammation from a wrist injury.

On August 15, Goodman filed a motion to dismiss the disciplinary complaint based on his argument that the NSAC lacked jurisdiction. The commission dismissed the motion on Tuesday and moved forward with the disciplinary hearing.

"I think we need to be as harsh as possible," said NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar during deliberations. "Running is inexcusable - no matter what the circumstances are. He was given ample opportunity after leaving the gym to submit a test. He failed to do that and jumped on a plane to Brazil."

In a YouTube video released on Friday, Silva announced his retirement, citing disillusionment with his current employer, the UFC. The Brazilian made his professional debut in 1996. He did not appear at Tuesday's hearing.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd