Silva Revocation Hearing Postponed

The California State Athletic Commission has granted Antonio Silva and his attorney a postponement of a Feb. 10 hearing in Los Angeles, where the fighter faces license revocation for his participation in a bout in Japan while under a one-year suspension for alleged steroid use.

Silva’s attorney, Howard Jacobs, requested the postponement, as he will be trying another case on Feb. 10 in Florida. Jacobs told Sherdog.com that Silva’s hearing has been moved to the CSAC’s next meeting in April.

Silva, 29, was formally suspended on Oct. 22 after allegedly testing positive for Boldenone metabolite following his July 26 contest against Justin Eilers at an EliteXC event in Stockton, Calif., but is contesting the penalty.

On Jan. 7, Silva, a former EliteXC heavyweight champion, filed a civil action against the CSAC in Los Angeles Superior Court, the first known case in which a mixed martial artist has legally contested a CSAC decision outside the state regulatory body.

The Brazilian fighter and his manager, Alex Davis, have proclaimed Silva’s innocence since the test results were announced in August 2008. They claim the results yielded a “false positive” from the over-the-counter nutritional supplement Novedex that Silva had taken prior to the bout.

Silva accepted a bout outside the CSAC’s jurisdiction in January for financial reasons. The Brazilian toppled Yoshihiro Nakao at World Victory Road’s “Sengoku Seventh Battle” via a 1:42 technical knockout from injury on Jan. 4 in Saitama, Japan. Davis said Silva anticipates to fight for the promotion again in March, but it still awaiting word of an opponent.

CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas said the commission would not comment on the case pending litigation.