Coming in at number 8 on the list, Bigfoot Silva is another entry who we should perhaps put an asterisk next to. Antonio Silva suffers from a condition known as Acromegaly, which, if it develops early in life, leads to gigantism, which is associated with excess height. As Silva developed the condition later in life, his main symptoms are pronounced growth of the hands, feet, and skull. In other words, it's why Bigfoot has, well, big feet - and big hands. Big everything, really. In Bigfoot's case, a benign tumour was found on his pituitary gland in 2007, related to the condition. After having it removed, the fighter still required treatment to combat low testosterone levels caused by the issue, which led to a positive drug test in 2008. By 2012, he was in the UFC, and on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) to combat the low testosterone levels, making him one of the few fighters in the UFC who had a legit medical reason for the treatment. However, after a Fight of the Night bout against Mark Hunt in December 2013 considered to be one of the best heavyweight fights of all time, Silva failed a drug test for elevated testosterone. In other words, while he had an exemption to be on the treatment, and the UFC itself had approved it, his levels were still out of whack, something Silva would later blame on the doctor administering the treatment. Silva claimed he was told to increase the frequency of his injections, although there was a dispute stemming from the fact that the doctor Silva accused (in Facebook comments) was not the doctor actually administering the treatment, but rather serving as a go-between of sorts between the fighter and his personal physician. As Bigfoot has a medical need for the treatment, there's a lot of sympathy for him, but he still needs to ensure the treatment is being administered properly, and that communication between all parties is clear. As a result of the failure, Silva lost his Fight of the Night bonus, and was suspended for nine months by the UFC.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
