Chris Weidman: “It Just Sucks” That Anderson Silva Took Steroids
UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was as surprised and disappointed as anyone upon hearing the news that Anderson Silva failed multiple tests for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) earlier this year.
“I was always under the belief that at least the top guys weren’t taking [PEDs],” Weidman told Fighthub. “I really believed that. I was naive. I thought taking steroids and performance enhancers is a mental weakness that the top, cream of the crop guys didn’t have to take. It was the guys that weren’t capable of being the best that needed them to try to hang with the best.”
Weidman expressed his shock, which was partly based on the fact that Silva was never the most muscled fighter at 185 pounds.
“”I’m just completely surprised by Anderson Silva,” said Weidman. “I just always thought the champions, if you look at them, muscular-wise, they’re not these jacked up guys.”
The champion refused to lambaste Silva for his indiscretions, feeling that the disgraced former champion’s reputation had been sullied enough. “The All American” did say that he felt let down, though.
“I’m not the guy who likes to kick people when they’re down so I’m not going to smear [Silva’s] name any more than it’s been smeared. I’m going to say it’s disappointing.”
Weidman also had some strong sentiments regarding his own principles, saying that he would sooner end his career than resort to banned substances. As someone plagued with injury himself, Weidman also gave his thoughts on the use of PEDs to recover, and the mindset of someone who chooses that avenue.
“I’ll retire early if my body can’t hold up,” said Weidman. “It’s just tough. You’re fighting through injuries. You just can’t do it. I just don’t want these younger fighters to think that that’s the way to become champion and make a legacy for yourself. I still firmly believe that taking PEDs is because you’re weak minded and you have insecurities about yourself. You’re trying to fill the void with PEDs. Winners, true winners, don’t have that.”
Weidman’s overriding concern, however, was for the future of the sport.
“The thing that bothers me the most about this Anderson Silva thing and different guys getting caught, is that it’s more about the younger guys coming up,” said Weidman. “Now they’re going to think they have to start taking steroids. Now they’re going to speculate that Anderson Silva took it his whole career. His legacy is in question at this point. There’s no going back on that.
“They’re going to imagine that he was doing it, so [Silva] made, who knows, let’s say $50 million. ‘If he did that and he was able to take care of himself for the rest of his life, he and his family, maybe it’s worth doing it.’ My message to them is that I’m champion and I’ve never taken any PED. I would never do that.”
A litany of injuries to both parties has meant that Weidman’s title defence against Vitor Belfort, which was originally scheduled for UFC 173, is now booked to take place almost exactly one year later, on May 23 at UFC 187 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Check out the full interview with “The All American” below:
