Nick Diaz has to do some serious thinking, on his UFC career and the lifestyle that goes along with it. Never mind his other issues that other professionals are best trained to deal with, if he ever seeks their services.
Post-UFC 143, and for the second time in his MMA career and in the state of Nevada, Diaz tested positive for marijuana. The first time was in 2007, with the Cesar Gracie protégé fresh off a submission victory over Takanori Gomi in Pride Fighting Championship 33.
His win was changed to a no-contest, and he was fined and meted a six-month suspension.
One fact that MMA fighters have to deal with is that marijuana use is prohibited by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). It doesn’t matter if it’s medicinal marijuana or not.
Come drug-testing time, the NSAC must not find a trace of that drug (or herb) in your urine—regardless of whatever purpose or form you used the weed.
The pros and cons of marijuana use, for fighters or the general public, are for the moment marginal as far as the NSAC’s standing rule on that drug is concerned—the rule stands and any fighter better stand by it to further his career.
We can debate on the drug’s effects—or lack of them—on athletic performance all we want. We can even campaign for its legalization, for it to be stripped from NSAC’s list of banned substances for all its merits, but the rule remains “indefinitely” effective for now.
Getting back to Diaz, well, it seems he was just being consistently in character, reckless even in drug use (or abuse). Maybe homie already needs help in this department, after getting caught and jeopardizing his still-rocketing MMA career for the second time.
Even those who inordinately take too much caffeinated coffee and suffer from its ill effects can benefit from rehabilitation. Maybe that’s what Diaz already needs, for marijuana use and other life issues.
If only all fighters would just train, eat, rest and take supplements NOT banned by the NSAC and other sports governing bodies while preparing for a fight—if only.
Now, if ever Diaz gets slapped in the face with a six-month suspension, then it will render moot and academic the controversial issue of an immediate rematch with Carlos Condit. (Anyway, as of last update, Diaz’s trainer Cesar Gracie himself said there would be no rematch.)
UFC President Dana White will be spared from making a “Solomonic” decision; the polarized fans will simmer down and just speculate and babble on who else Condit should fight within six months.
Then, after nine months, hopefully the real welterweight championship match between Condit and a fully healed Georges St-Pierre will happen, as many originally believed immediately after The Natural Born Killer beat Diaz.
And through all this time, hopefully Diaz will become a better person and fighter. After all, his MMA career is still up there in the sky with diamonds.
Lastly, thanks NSAC, for playing deus ex machina.
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