Nick Diaz Suspended Five Years For Marijuana Use
UFC Fighter Nick Diaz was suspended five years by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for marijuana use. According to reports, the latest incident was Diaz’s third marijuana-related offense in the last eight years. In addition to the suspension, the mixed martial artist was ordered to pay a $165,000 fine.
Although the suspension is only five years, NSAC commissioner Skip Avansino admitted it could end Diaz’s career.
Nick Diaz said he plans to appeal the suspension. However, he is disappointed with the commission’s decision. As reported by ESPN, he had some harsh words for the NSAC.
“I wanted to tell them what I think. I wanted to tell each and every one of them they’re a bunch of dorks. Everybody who sees them or knows who they are should tell them that. I would if it weren’t for my experts advising me to keep my mouth shut. I wanted to get up and say, ‘Look. You guys are way the f— out of line.'”
Diaz’s attorney, Lucas Middlebrook, said the suspension “wasn’t based on fact… wasn’t based on evidence.”
The suspension stems from a series of drug tests administered on January 31. According to reports, Nick Diaz submitted three separate tests on that date.
The prefight and postfight tests, which were examined by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, were clean. A third test, administered between the prefight and postfight tests and analyzed by Quest Diagnostics, tested positive for marijuana.
Attorney Middlebrook argued that the Quest Diagnostic results were “scientifically unreliable,” as there were “several irregularities.”
Nick Diaz has been suspended 5 years from fighting for his 3rd failed drug test. (marijuana) pic.twitter.com/y1ITy8sifE
— UFC Insiders (@UFCInsiders) September 15, 2015
As reported by Bloody Elbow, Nick Diaz’s suspension was specifically harsh, as the punishment was “more severe than other [performance-enhancing drug] abusers and significantly higher” than the punishment guidelines outlined by the NSAC.
As he dropped out of high school at the age of 16, Nick Diaz devoted his life to professional mixed martial arts. In an interview with MMA Fighting, the UFC fighter said the suspension is a devastating blow.
“I’m the only one who’s invested in a fight life. That’s why none of these other guys can ever say s**t. They’re too worried about what their families and their wives and the people around them will think… I invested everything in my fight life. That’s why I come off the way I do and always have. Every other fighter has a life on the side. I’ve never had another job.”
Nick Diaz’s five-year suspension was approved in a unanimous vote. Although he was given an opportunity to answer questions about the charges, the mixed martial artist pleaded the fifth on the advice of his attorney.
[Image via Steve Marcus/Getty Images]
