Dr. Marcio Tannure Denies All Wrongdoing Surrounding Bigfoot Silva’s Failed UFC Fight Night 33 Drug Test
UFC heavyweight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva has fallen under intense scrutiny following his suspension for elevated testosterone following his five round war with Mark Hunt in the main event of UFC Fight Night 33 in Brisbane, Australia. “Bigfoot” is on the shelf for nine months and had to give his $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus to Hunt.
Silva had been granted a TUE for TRT, something that the UFC knew about, but his levels were still well outside of the allowable range. “Bigfoot” was quick to blame Dr. Marcio Tannure, director of the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA). Silva claimed that Dr. Tannure was responsible for giving him the illegal doses of testosterone, stating that he simply wasn’t at fault in the matter.
Today, Tannure has responded in a statement to MMAJunkie.com. He wrote that he is not and never has been “Bigfoot’s” medical advisor, only that he involved with him on a limited basis heading up to the Hunt fight:
“To be clear, I am not, nor have I ever been, Antonio Silva’s medical doctor. Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva has made some inaccurate statements in the media recently concerning the circumstances leading up to his positive test for an elevated testosterone ratio. I am releasing this statement to clarify the facts related to my limited involvement leading up to his fight with Mark Hunt. “
“Approximately seven to 10 days prior to the bout, Antonio’s primary care physician and I discussed the fact that, in spite of the TRT, his levels continued to be below the therapeutic level. His doctor recommended that Antonio increase the frequency of his dosage of testosterone based on his prior levels, and I was asked to communicate that recommendation to Antonio – which I did via email. I also invited Antonio to contact me if he had any questions.”
“Antonio’s primary physician and I agreed that his last injection of testosterone was to be taken on Nov. 30, 2013 – one week prior to his fight. I communicated this to Antonio, as well. That was the extent of my involvement in this matter.”
Apparently Tannure had been hired to work in conjunction with UFC exec Marc Ratner, UFC medical consultant Dr. Jeff Davidson, and Silva’s regular medical doctor to monitor “Bigfoot’s” testosterone levels prior to UFN 33. The Portuguese-speaking Tannure was unable to find a happy medium between all involved parties, resulting in Silva’s ban and the marring of what has been called the greatest heavyweight bout in UFC history.
Silva has said that he felt he was treated like a “lab rat.” Should we feel sorry for “Bigfoot,” who has been suspended for PEDs before, or should we believe Tannure?
The truth is usually somewhere in between, but regardless; “Bigfoot’s” reputation took a serious hit this week, adding a new dynamic to the never-ending debate over TRT in MMA.
Will there ever be a solution to what has become an epidemic?
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez for USA TODAY Sports
