Judge Overturns Wanderlei Silva’s Lifetime Ban, Orders Rehearing with Nevada Commission

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Wanderlei Silva may be retired, but he’s not done fighting the Nevada Athletic Commission.

On Friday, a Nevada district court judge overturned the NAC’s lifetime ban and $70,000 fine of Silva, ruling that the commission’s disciplinary actions were “arbitrary, capricious and not supported by substantial evidence.” The same judge, however, dismissed Silva’s argument that the NAC exceeded its jurisdiction by attempting to drug test him when he was not a licensed fighter.

Judge Kerry Earley ordered that Silva, 38, appear before the NAC for rehearing on the matter, though exactly when that hearing will take place remains unclear.

Silva’s ban and fine stemmed from a May 2014 incident in which the NAC sent a representative to the fighter’s Wand Fight Team gym in Las Vegas and attempted to procure a urine sample prior to Silva’s then-scheduled UFC 175 bout with Chael Sonnen. The Brazilian veteran fled before producing the sample and later claimed that he ran from the test because he had taken banned diuretics to reduce inflammation on a wrist injury.

Silva announced his retirement in September following his last appearance before the NAC.