Former UFC Champ Anderson Silva on Failed Tests: ‘I Always Played Clean’

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Ex-middleweight champion Anderson Silva continues to deny that he took performance enhancing drugs prior to UFC 183. The Brazilian tested positive for two different anabolic steroids -- drostanolone metabolites and androsterone -- during a pre-fight drug screening administered on Jan. 9 ahead of his bout against Nick Diaz. He also tested positive for Oxazepam, Temazepam and drostanolone in a post-fight urine test given on Jan. 31.

Silva received a temporary suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission earlier this week and will face a long-term suspension, fines and could have his win against Diaz overturned at a future disciplinary hearing. In a Friday Instagram post titled, IN RESPECT TO MY FANS, “The Spider” claims that he has never cheated.

"I will not say anything about who I am or what I went through to get here. What matters to me now is the respect from those who have followed my career,” Silva wrote. “I bled, struggled and fought because I love it and because I always wanted to honor the flag of the country I love so much.

"I don't know what to apologize for, because I am still waiting for the results and analysis from the specialists that are working to reveal the truth. Everything that I took since my injury are being analyzed. I look for the truth as much as all those who were surprised with the results. I always played clean, I was never a cheater.

"In eighteen years of my career, I never had a problem with exams. In and out of the Octagon I never slipped in compliance with the principles that always guided me. With much honor and dignity I defended my country where ever I fought," he continued. "I never used any substances to better my performance in my fights. I love what I do and I would never risk what I took so long to build. I think that the hurry some people have to condemn me is unfair. The time it takes to destroy a reputation is infinitely less than that is taken to build it. I am the one who is most eager to settle this situation. I want those who have always supported me to know that I am still fighting for all the sad happenings of this situation to be cleared."

IN RESPECT TO MY FANS I will not say anything about who I am or what I went through to get here. What matters to me now is the respect from those who have followed my career. I bled, struggled and fought because I love it and because I always wanted to honor the flag of the country I love so much. I don't know what to apologize for, because I am still waiting for the results and analysis from the specialists that are working to reveal the truth. Everything that I took since my injury are being analyzed. I look for the truth as much as all those who were surprised with the results. I always played clean, I was never a cheater. In eighteen years of my career, I never had a problem with exams. In and out of the Octagon I never slipped in compliance with the principles that always guided me. With much honor and dignity I defended my country where ever I fought. I never used any substances to better my performance in my fights. I love what I do and I would never risk what I took so long to build. I think that the hurry some people have to condemn me is unfair. The time it takes to destroy a reputation is infinitely less than that is taken to build it. I am the one who is most eager to settle this situation. I want those who have always supported me to know that I am still fighting for all the sad happenings of this situation to be cleared.

A photo posted by Anderson Silva (@spiderandersonsilva) on Feb 19, 2015 at 10:56pm PST