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          Anderson Silva wants to compete in the Olympic Games

          • Brett OkamotoApr 13, 2015, 08:49 PM
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              Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
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          Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has expressed a desire to represent Brazil in taekwondo at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, according to a release by the Brazilian confederation of taekwondo, CBTKD.

          Silva, 39, who is currently suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing multiple drug tests before his most recent fight on Jan. 31, submitted a written request to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games to CBTKD president Carlos Fernandes this week.

          The Brazilian taekwondo confederation said Wednesday that "this wonderful possibility'' of Silva competing in the Olympics will be discussed next week between the fighter and local officials.

          Silva on Wednesday tweeted a picture of himself practicing taekwondo.

          Widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, Silva (34-6) failed two drug tests ahead of a unanimous decision win against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January. It was his first appearance since he broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg while throwing a kick during a loss to Chris Weidman in December 2013.

          Silva tested positive for the banned substances drostanolone and androstane during an out-of-competition test Jan. 9. He tested positive for drostanolone a second time in a fight night drug test taken in Las Vegas.

          The Brazilian is under an indefinite suspension by the NSAC. He is tentatively scheduled to appear at a disciplinary hearing in May. Silva has denied any performance-enhancing drug use and has said he is investigating the various substances he took in relation to his leg injury.

          According to the CBTKD website, Fernandes will meet with Silva to discuss the request in the near future.

          "Everyone knows that, for a high-performance athlete, the Olympic Games are the dream of every athlete, and so it would be no different with me," Silva wrote in Portuguese, as translated by Google Translate.

          "When I won the title of ambassador of the sport by president Carlos Fernandes, this feeling started to get even stronger and, in my country, the Olympic spirit made me very motivated. [Therefore, I have registered] my desire to represent [Brazil in taekwondo] in 2016 with all my esteem, strength and honor."

          The Associated Press contributed to this report.