ONE OF THE biggest names in mixed martial arts has received an unprecedented five-year ban from competition.
The suspension has been handed down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to Nick Diaz in relation to a drug test he failed back in January.
Diaz tested positive for marijuana in the aftermath of his unanimous-decision defeat to Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in Las Vegas.
Despite the fact that Silva failed tests for steroids — both before and after the fight — the Brazilian was later banned for just one year and fined $380,000 (30% of his fight purse, plus his entire $200,000 win bonus).
Diaz, who also received a $165,000 fine (33% of his $500,000 purse for the fight), has seemingly paid a hefty price for repeated offences.
The 32-year-old Californian also tested positive for marijuana following his win against Takanori Gomi in 2007, as well as after his 2012 defeat to Carlos Condit.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that Diaz’s attorney Lucas Middlebrook has confirmed that the decision to suspend the fighter for five years will be appealed.
The severity of the ban has come as a surprise, particularly in the context that the NSAC recently proposed new guidelines whereby a third failed test for marijuana would be punishable by a three-year suspension and 60-75% fine.
Video: MMAjunkie
“I’m pretty pissed off,” Diaz told reporters afterwards. “First of all, this sport, this commission and everybody, they’ve done everything they can to keep me from being all the way on top, where I should be. They’ve been doing everything they could to keep me from proving to the world that I’m the best fighter in the world, which I am.”
Diaz added: “I never did steroids in my life, that’s another thing I’ll tell you right now. I know all the fighters and they’re all on steroids. All you motherfuckers are on steroids. All you motherfuckers, all of you are on steroids. I already know that.
“I’m the only person in this sport, for the most part, that ain’t on steroids. Now there’s new rules in effect and there’s guys who aren’t on steroids now, but they used to be. They’ve always been on steroids. I’ve never been on steroids and I didn’t break the rules now. I tested under.”
– First published 23.41, 14 Sept
