In Feb of 2007 vs. Takanori Gomi, Nick Diaz failed a post-fight drug for marijuana, and was suspended for six months. In Feb of 2012 vs. Carlos Condit, Diaz failed a second test, and was suspended for one year.
At the time the Nevada State Athletic Commission set the allowable limit at 50 ng/mL, which indicates recent use, but not that the athlete is high. The NSAC later set the level to 150 ng/mL, bringing it in keeping with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.
WADA standards do not address out of competition use of recreational drugs, but seek to ensure that fighters do not compete high.
In Feb of 2015 vs. Anderson Silva, Diaz failed a test using the new, higher standard. In fact, he tested at 300 ng/ml, double the allowed limit.
Further, fighters who have tested positive for recreational drugs in Nevada are required to apply again for a license, and submit along with the application a clean test. Diaz struggled to do so, taking and failing the test multiple times, before he finally passed and was licensed on Jan 28, just three days before UFC 183. The failed tests were not submitted, and are not relevant, as the NSAC does not ordinarily check out of competition use of recreational drugs, except incidentally.
It must be noted that Diaz has a medical marijuana license in his native state of California. He was not breaking any laws when he failed the out of competition tests.
“We do get them at the last second,” said NAC executive Bob Bennett to Marc Raimondi. “We’d prefer not to, because it creates problems. But don’t think we didn’t contact the promoters. We did contact the promoters. We said, ‘We need a clean bill of health from Nick or he isn’t fighting.’”
Coach Gracie said he is confused as to how Diaz passed a drug test before the fight, did not smoke after it and then failed the post-fight screening.
“What we think happened is the exertion of the fight affected the test and that’s why he tested positive,” said Gracie.
Bennett disagrees.
“It’s obvious once he provided us a negative one he started smoking again,” he said.
Gracie said he is not surprised and does not think it’s a big story.
“It’s not a shocker,” Gracie said. “His DNA is THC, let’s face it. No one is surprised by that. I’m disappointed by it. It’s just a distraction. It sucks. I don’t want any distractions. The guy is such a brilliant fighter. I’d rather be talking about how skilled he is.”
“He doesn’t take pain medications. When he’s in pain after a workout, he likes to smoke marijuana. It calms him down and relieves the pain in his body. It’s his way to naturally deal with pain and other problems.”
“I think the public knows Nick smokes marijuana. He obviously wasn’t stoned during the fight.”
The next NSAC meeting is Feb. 17; at that point it is likely both Silva and Diaz will be temporarily suspended, and disciplinary hearings will be scheduled for March or April. Given Silva’s age and Diaz’s repeated offenses, the careers of both beloved fighters may be in jeopardy.
