Tim Sylvia = Banned Substance at UFC 44
10-7-2003 4:54 PM PST

UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia announced today that he had taken a banned substance prior to his title defense against Gan McGee on Sept. 26 in Las Vegas.

"I made a terrible mistake... the biggest mistake of my life," Sylvia said. "I wish I could take it back, but that isn't possible. So, I'm ready to accept the consequences for my actions."

The Nevada State Athletic Commission notified Sylvia of the infraction earlier this week. Sylvia hopes to have a hearing in front of the board on Oct. 15 in Las Vegas.

"After I won the title, I wanted to look better... to have a better physique," Sylvia said. "I have never taken steroids before, so I tried it for a month after the Ricco fight. Now, it's obvious that it was a big mistake."

Sylvia said he will abide by whatever decisions are made by the NSAC and Zuffa.

"I just want to apologize for letting people down... my fans, my teammates, my family, the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the UFC," Sylvia said. "I can't express how disappointed I am in myself right now. I've gotten such great support from so many people... I hope they will stick by me and help me get through this. I want to accept responsibility for what I did, do whatever I have to do to put it behind me, and move on with my career."

Damn, I wonder what the penalty is for that.

Thanks Tanner

thats ****ed he's gonna get banned for a year just like barnett

This is very shocking. He didn't need to take them, he already had the phyiscal tools to dominate the UFC at heavyweight

not only shocking but disappointing.

Wow, man that sucks. See, they need to have the testing results "before" the actual fight, wouldn't that be better? Wanted to look better? Sheesh, & guys think women are vain..........

but it was still a good fight, he would have still won even if he hadn't used that..... right?

Originally posted by momita
Wow, man that sucks. See, they need to have the testing results "before" the actual fight, wouldn't that be better? Wanted to look better? Sheesh, & guys think women are vain..........

but it was still a good fight, he would have still won even if he hadn't used that..... right?

Seroids had nothing to do with that fight. It was a clean QUICK K.O

This isn't like Josh where the style of fighting and the way the fight when CLEARLY showed the roids helped him

Tim just K.Oed him

Regardless he should be stripped of the title, Barnett was, so it is only fair that the same happens to Sylvia.....

I knew he was on the juice. One of his friends was posting on a steroid forum I mod at. The guy should have told Sylvia about clearance times, etc. I don't know why these guys take steroids without doing their research.

So what does this mean? Is the title up for grabs now or is it given to Gan ?

I dont agree with steriod use in athleates. Especially in combat sports. It is like cheating. It gives them an unfair advantage over the people who actually put in the hard work at the gym to get in shape and become stronger......

They will tell at the hearing Momita. Gan wont get the title, it will most likely be up for grabs again.......

agreed kaps steroid use is bull**** it's cheating he should be sripped

This is very disappointing, I like him but he should be stripped.

*Zen shakes head in disgust*

I'm not really upset with Sylvia, just upset for the sport and the UFC. They are starting to get on a roll and this **** happens. Let Randy fight Mir for the HW title at 45, cause I'm sure Sylvia will be stripped and banned for a year.

Randy is LHW now. He dont want none of the big boys anymore. I say Ricco Vs. Mir, maybe throw Arvloski in there somewhere.....

I know Randy won't fight Mir, I was implying that it would be cool if he had both belts at the same time............................

I think Ricco vs. Mir is the way to go, and I think Ricco would tool Mir.

Set up a tourny! I love tournys....

Ricco Vs. Arvloski
Mir Vs. Rizzo or McGee
Winner Vs. Winner for vacant UFC HW title. That is if they strip him.....

They'll strip him. If they stripped Barnett, they'll strip Sylvia. It's a real shame though. Just when you thought the UFC HW division had some stability.

Originally posted by kaps
Set up a tourny! I love tournys....

Ricco Vs. Arvloski
Mir Vs. Rizzo or McGee
Winner Vs. Winner for vacant UFC HW title. That is if they strip him.....

i would say McGee over Rizzo, Rizzo hasn't been that good in his last few fights.

mir doesn't deserve to fight for the title. rizzo should rematch mcgee for the title if they strip sylvia. the hw division is weak in the ufc. maybe they should have fujita fight someone for the title.

I like Kaps' idea. But I don't think Mc Gee deserves to fight for the title again. Arlovski, Mir, Ricco, and Rizzo are my picks for the tournament.

if they do have a tournament it should be all in one night cus i am sick of them having tournys over the course of 2 or 3 ufcs. just look what happened to lightweight division.

Yeah, all in one night would be idea. But its is against Nevada laws. So they would have to go to a reservation to pull that one off.....

This **** is retarded. I mean you know you are being checked, I am sorry and it was a big mistake = I am sorry I got caught.

No respect for people that take what is deemed Illegal enhancement drugs. there are plenty legal ones available..lol

This is truly a disappointment. Sylvia most definitely had the abilities to defeat McGee without the use of illegal steroids. I think using them is pretty ignorant, but nonetheless if he was going to take it either way, he should've waited until after the fight was done with.

Sylvia should be stripped of his title. Afterall it's only fair. He broke the rules, and he's willing to accept the consequences of his actions and for that I give back some of his merit. Hopefully after his year is up he can come back and get his title back from whoever has it.

Pride should send somebody over to fight for the title. That would be sweet. If they have the tourny

Rizzo has 1 fight left on his contract I believe and the UFC does not want him back after that.

Mir vs Ricco for the title

It makes sense

What makes this even more stupid is Tim made fun of Ricco about his gut & the girdle he wore, yet he takes stuff to look good for after the fight???

A contradiction there somewhere............

UFC president, Dana White commented on Tim Sylvia's situation: "We are very disappointed that the lab tests came back and showed that he used steroids. We fully support Tim in his efforts to respond to these charges and to work with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to come to a fair and just resolution. We also fully support the NSAC in whatever its judgement might be.”