Wanderlei Silva on Lifetime Ban: The NSAC 'Looks Like a Circus'

Former PRIDE champ and UFC veteran Wanderlei Silva is less than thrilled after being handed a lifetime ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission Tuesday, and he isn't shy about saying so. 

The Axe Murderer was issued a precedent-setting lifetime ban by the commission, per Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting, after refusing a random drug test issued back in May. 

In an interview with Brazilian media outlet Combate, Silva went on a tirade blasting the decision, noting some inconsistencies in recent rulings made by the NSAC (translation per Guilherme Cruz MMA Fighting). 

"

The punishment they gave (Sonnen) was unfair. We don’t know what’s behind this commission because at the same hearing they punished Sonnen they cleared (Vitor Belfort) who tested positive for high levels of testosterone in February, to fight for the title in December. Both had a history. The same case. One is banned, the other one is cleared to fight. ... We have to know who’s regulating this commission, who controls it, because it looks like a circus. They do what they want, and where are we going to complain about it? 

"

Former three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen was set to face Silva at UFC 175 in July, but once his old rival was removed from the card after his drug testing fiasco, The American Gangster was paired with Vitor Belfort, per Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie.  

However, Sonnen was then subsequently removed from the annual Fourth of July weekend pay-per-view event after failing a drug test for anti-estrogenic drugs, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com.  

After the results of a second drug test revealed that Sonnen had used performance-enhancing drugs such as EPO and human growth hormones, Sonnen was eventually issued a two-year ban by the NSAC, per Matt Parrino of UFC.com.

Although Belfort tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in February, the NSAC still granted the Brazilian slugger a conditional license to fight UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman at UFC 181, per Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog. 

That championship matchup was postponed after Weidman suffered a broken hand in training (h/t Ariel Helwani).  

While it may be inconsequential either way, was the NSAC's punishment of Silva far too harsh or necessary to send a statement to other fighters that the last thing they want to do is refuse a drug test?

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.