Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin revealed today on ‘The MMA Hour’, that prior to his fight at UFC 101 against Anderson Silva, he took an anti-anxiety medication called Xanax to calm his nerves, something that people who suffer with anxiety disorders do on a regular basis.
Problem is, Xanax and many medications of it’s kinda are on the banned substance list by Athletic Commissions, including the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, who oversaw the UFC 101 event that took place on August 8th, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Wachovia Center.
The medication was not performance enhancing, at least on that night, which saw Anderson Silva knockout Griffin in highlight reel fashion in the first round. Griffin claims he took the medication a day prior to the fight.
Griffin told ‘MMA Hour’ Host Ariel Helwani the following:
“I failed my drug test I think for Xanax. I had a doctor’s prescription, I was just, I didn’t do it before the fight, I did it the night before, I was nervous and I couldn’t sleep.”
When asked why he never revealed this info, Griffin replied:
“What’s the point? Why add humiliation to a bad situation? Look what happened when I fought Anderson Silva. It can’t possibly get worse than that.
I’ve already seen the bottom and it wasn’t that bad. I made it through. I survived. It’s fighting. It’s not the end of the world.”
It’s not known why the failed drug test was not made public knowledge. And the fact that Forrest Griffin competed only three months later at UFC 106 against Tito Ortiz, is indication that he was not punished by the commission or by the UFC itself.
Although it’s possible Griffin was fined an undisclosed amount of money, but not likely.
Vendetta Fighter will be updating this article as more on this topic is available. *** UPDATE ***
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