NSAC files complaint against Silva as 'unarmed combatant,' asks for court costs, other relief

The Nevada attorney general’s office has filed a formal complaint against Wanderlei Silva, asking the commission to hold the fighter responsible for evading a random drug test and his admitted illicit drug use in advance of an ill-fated meeting with Chael Sonnen at UFC 175.

Although Silva was unlicensed at the time of his offenses, the complaint defines him as an “unarmed combatant” who is subject to the NSAC’s rules on banned substances.

The AG’s office argues that Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) promoted his fight with Sonnen and “knew he was a contestant for UFC 175.”

“An unarmed combatant shall submit to a urinalysis or chemical test if the commission or a representative of the commission directs him or her to do so,” states the complaint, filed July 31, which was obtained today by MMAjunkie and will be posted shortly.

The AG’s office seeks costs associated with the Silva case, including investigative costs and attorney’s fees, and any other punishment the commission sees fit, which could include barring him from applying for a license in the state for a period of time. Silva has 20 days to respond; his case will be addressed at a commission hearing at a date to be determined.

MMAjunkie was unable to reach Silva’s lawyer, Ross Goodman, for comment, and the NSAC did not immediately respond to a request asking for clarification on whether the fighter will appeal the findings.

The complaint restates the case laid out by the commission during an “information gathering” meeting in June in which Silva appeared and Goodman read an extended statement on his behalf. Silva admitted evading a tester hired by the NSAC and that he was using a banned diuretic to counteract the effects of a wrist injury.

Since that appearance, Silva has given puzzling interviews in which he’s claimed his commission troubles are resolved and a fight with Sonnen is still possible. Although Sonnen retired in the time between two drug failures of his own prior to UFC 175, Silva said his rival’s retirement will only last the length of a two-year suspension.

In May, UFC President Dana White said he wouldn’t cut Silva from the UFC, but said the fighter could have difficulties getting licensed by the NSAC. In the wake of the fighter’s claims that his troubles were “solved,” White said he “he’s very wrong.”

“I think he’s in big trouble,” White said. “You can not run away from a test. You can’t do it, and it sets a very bad precedent. He would have been better off taking the test and testing positive than running from the test. But I’m not a commission member. Maybe I’m wrong and he’s right. We’ll see what happens.”

Silva last appeared in the octagon in March 2013, when he stopped Brian Stann in the headliner of UFC on FUEL TV 8. This past fall, he coached “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3? opposite Sonnen. The two were slated to fight at UFC 173, but an on-set brawl injured Silva and forced the UFC to reschedule the bout to UFC 175.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Click to see: Wanderlei Silva – Signed complaint with exhibit