Why Was Anderson Silva Allowed To Fight?

Fans and fighters around the world are asking themselves one question today…

Why was Anderson Silva allowed to fight following his failed drug test?

WoW! @ufc has a lot of explaining to do. #SAD day in the ufc world. Crazy how Dana can control if they fight or not.The mighty dollar! LOL

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 4, 2015

We're Silva's test results known by the commission and UFC before the fight? If so, why was he allowed to compete?

— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) February 4, 2015

What's the point of doing pre fight testing (as in 1/9) if you don't get the results back until after the fight? Rush that shit to the lab

— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) February 4, 2015

Why the fuck did Anderson get to fight? It's a seriously dangerous sport that could cause serious trauma #DontBeScaredHomie

— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) February 4, 2015

Things don’t look good for the UFC, especially on the heels of the Jon Jones testing fiasco from a few weeks back.

However, before you conspiracy theorists start working overtime, we have a very logical explanation from the NSAC Chairman (Via Yahoo Sports), who states that the results from the January 9 test only became available on Feb. 2.

“I would have had no problem calling the fight once I had this result,” Aguilar said. “Those are not acceptable substances. But at the very least, by doing this out-of-competition test, we found this. We wouldn’t have known had we not done the out-of-competition test… “The time lapse is unacceptable,” Bennett said. “We’ve made arrangements with the lab to make sure we get the results within seven days and they are working hand in glove with us on this.”

Still, this explanation doesn’t satisfy this man, an MMA Columnist and expert in the field:

The actual time to run this type of testing is measured in minutes NOT weeks. You connect the dots from there

— Dr. Johnny Benjamin (@DrJCBenjamin) February 4, 2015

By their actions the NSAC has proven they are far more effective at protecting fight card than they are at protecting fighters' safety

— Dr. Johnny Benjamin (@DrJCBenjamin) February 4, 2015

The solution has always been clear. Hire independent, highly qualified agency like VADA. The real question is why won't they do it???

— Dr. Johnny Benjamin (@DrJCBenjamin) February 4, 2015