UFC welterweight Matt Riddle has run afoul of the promotion’s drug testing for a second time after his most recent fight in England at UFC on Fuel TV 7.
According to Riddle in a statement released to MMAJunkie.com, the former Ultimate Fighter competitor tested positive for marijuana following his fight with Che Mills just weeks ago in the U.K.
The UFC opted to release Riddle following his second infraction with the drug testing protocols.
Because England has no athletic commission to oversee mixed martial arts in the country, the UFC heads up their own drug testing program led by Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner.
The first time Riddle tested positive was following his UFC 149 fight against Chris Clements, which he won at the time, but due to the drug test result the victory was changed to a no-contest by the Calgary Combative Sports Commission.
Riddle is a legal user of medical marijuana in the state of Nevada where he resides, but unfortunately the drug remains on the banned substances list for athletes.
In past interviews, Riddle has argued for the legalization for his of medical marijuana, but as long as the drug remains a banned substance, he cannot test positive for it.
“I deal with it, and honestly I’m an advocate for it. I think it should be legal,” said Riddle just after his fight with Mills in England.
Unfortunately, Riddle’s commitment to stop using marijuana for three weeks prior to his fight to guarantee the drug no longer stays in his system didn’t work this time around either and he’s now tested positive for marijuana a second time.
Riddle joins fellow medical marijuana user and welterweight Nick Diaz as UFC athletes that have tested positive for the drug on multiple occasions now. Diaz was actually suspended for one year following his second infraction last year when failing the test under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Now Riddle finds himself on the outside looking in after a second failed drug test. Following his stint on the seventh season of the Ultimate Fighter, Riddle actually made his professional debut in the UFC and has spent his entire career with the promotion.
Damon Martin is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report
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