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Thursday, Mar 14, 2013

Opinion: Is Nick Diaz Risking His Fight Career For Marijuana?

Nick Diaz

By Michael Hatamoto

It’s no secret that UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz likes to smoke marijuana – excuse me, ‘medical cannabis’ – and doesn’t seem to be willing to give it up for the sake of his career.

He’s been suspended twice, with one of the most significant wins of his career, against Takanori Gomi, ruled a no decision when he couldn’t pass a post-fight drug test.  More recently, following his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit in an interim welterweight title fight, Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites following a urine test.

I don’t have any problem with professional athletes smoking marijuana, and fully believe it’s better than abusing PEDs and narcotics, but he shouldn’t risk his fighting career for Mary Jane.

Win or lose, if Diaz was to test positive for a third time, UFC President Dana White would likely have to cut the former Strikeforce welterweight champion.

“I would say we would probably have to.  To say that marijuana is a performance enhancing drug, I think it’s the exact opposite.  What the commission is saying is they think it’s a painkiller, still ridiculous.  I don’t believe in it, but here’s the facts: it’s illegal.  You can’t do it.  It says it in the regulations you can’t, and if you get busted for doing it you’re going to be in big trouble.  You’re going to lose money.  You’re going to lose the ability to work for a year, so it is what it is.  I just hope it doesn’t happen on Saturday.”

I don’t care if he wants to smoke marijuana in between fights, or, even during a training camp, but he shouldn’t spark up within 4-5 weeks of a fight.  It would be such a shame to see someone as talented as Nick Diaz forced out of the UFC due to his inability to put down the bong.

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:02 pm
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