Judge reverses Silva’s lifetime ban, calls for new hearing
A Nevada district judge has reversed a lifetime ban and $70,000 fine imposed on now-retired mixed martial artist Wanderlei Silva for fleeing from a random drug test last year.
After failing to adhere to a random drug test, the Nevada State Athletic Commission issued a lifetime ban to Wanderlei Silva. Today however the UFC fighter earned a victory in court as a judge reversed the ban and called for a new disciplinary hearing:
A Nevada district judge has reversed a lifetime ban and $70,000 fine imposed on now-retired mixed martial artist Wanderlei Silva for fleeing from a random drug test last year.
Judge Kerry L. Earley ruled in favor of Silva’s assertion the punishment, which was voted on unanimously by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in September, was “arbitrary, capricious and not supported by substantial evidence.”
As part of the court’s ruling, a re-hearing has been ordered to allocate proper punishment for Silva’s violation. Deputy attorney general Christopher Eccles was not immediately available for comment.