Nick Diaz Gets One Year Suspension, Fine
Posted on 21 May 2012
by MMAScoops.com Staff

Nick Diaz received a twelve-month suspension and a fine from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his failed drug test at UFC 143. The NSAC made their decision in a three hour hearing today, suspending Diaz for twelve months from the date of UFC 143 and fining him $60,000, which is 30% of his UFC 143 purse.

The NSAC also said that Diaz, who was present for the hearing, must submit a clean test to be licensed in Nevada again. Diaz's lawyer Ross Goodman argued that the marijuana metabolites that Diaz tested positive for were not technically a violation of commission statutes on the use of prohibited substances, but the board disagreed.

A medical expert who testified on Diaz's behalf said that the amount of metabolites found in Diaz's system were in line with Diaz's assertion that he quit using the metabolites eight days before the show, but the state's expert said that he could have used it as recently as twenty-four hours before the fight.

Diaz had a doctor's recommendation allowing the use of medical marijuana as treatment for ADHD, but said at the hearing that he didn't think he had a serious medical condition.

Diaz is eligible to apply for a license in Nevada on Feb. 4, 2013.