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Wanderlei Silva won a major victory in court today with a Nevada district court judge overturning the lifetime ban the Nevada State Athletic Commission(NSAC) handed down in early 2014. The victory appears to be of utmost importance as the legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter seems to have cleared the first obstacle in his way back into combat sports. The judge did agree that the NSAC had jurisdiction over Silva despite being an unlicensed athlete, but concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to support a lifetime ban. As reported by ESPN’s Britt Okamoto
"A district court judge has REVERSED the lifetime ban imposed on Wanderlei Silva by the NSAC and ordered there be a new disciplinary hearing. The district judge agreed the NSAC had jurisdiction over Silva, even though he was not licensed when they attempted to drug test him; however, the district judge ruled that Silva's lifetime ban was not supported by substantial evidence. Ross Goodman, Silva's attorney, says he is 'evaluating options' in terms of a potential appeal, regarding the jurisdiction issue."
Silva was handed down hefty punishment after he ran from a random drug test ahead of UFC 175. The former champion later admitted to taking a banned substance but later said it was a diuretic to help the healing process from a wrist injury. Silva was part of the three-man circus involving Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, who were nabbed by the NSAC during a surprise drug test. NSAC tried to make an example out of Silva, but it seems he won’t be going down without a fight.
