THE NEWS THAT Ultimate Fighting Championship star Nick Diaz was hit with a five-year ban for marijuana use last night has been met with widespread criticism.
Diaz received the suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission as a result of a failed test in the aftermath of his defeat to Anderson Silva — who received a one-year ban for steroids — in Las Vegas back in January.
The 32-year-old California native, who was also fined $165,000, plans to appeal the unprecedented punishment. Diaz also tested positive for marijuana in 2007 and 2012.
Many members of the mixed martial arts community, including Irish fighters Norman Parke and Cathal Pendred, have taken to social media to voice their opposition to the severity of the ban issued to Diaz, who’s a former WEC and Strikeforce champion.