UFC suspends Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva for excessive testosterone

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, who fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title in
May, tested positive for an excessive level of testosterone after his Dec. 6 draw in Australia against Mark Hunt.

In addition to surrendering his $50,000 fight-of-the-night bonus following the bloody battle, Silva is suspended for nine months, the UFC said in a statement.

Silva (18-5-1) had been approved for the controversial testosterone replacement therapy
that some other UFC fighters receive.

Silva “had been in compliance with therapeutic guidelines on all pre-fight tests performed prior to the event,” the UFC statement said. “The results of his test on the day of the event indicated a level of testosterone outside of allowable limit.”

UFC President Dana White called Silva-Hunt the best heavyweight bout in UFC history after the pair exchanged knockdowns.

The 6-foot-4, 264-pound Silva said after the fight he injured his back a few weeks before fighting Hunt, but opted to keep quiet, adding, “I came here to fight and did my best.”

In May, after beating previously testosterone-banned UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, Silva suffered a first-round technical-knockout loss to UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in a rematch of a May 2012 fight that Velasquez also dominated.

The UFC said Silva will be subjected to additional drug screening before he is allowed back in the organization. Hunt was given Silva’s $50,000.

Hunt expressed disappointment to MMA Junkie on Tuesday that Silva had received a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone.

“I don’t know how these guys are doing this,” Hunt said. “I should get some of that … too.”

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lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire