Former UFC and current PRIDE fighter Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana after his fight with Takanori Gomi in Las Vegas at the PRIDE 33 event. The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down a six-month suspension to Diaz, fined him $3000, and changed the result of his fight with Gomi from a victory to ‘no contest’. What isn’t immediately clear is whether the suspension will be served concurrently or sequentially; Diaz was already serving a six-month medical suspension after suffering a broken orbital bone in the Gomi fight.
FightOpinion has some links to even more coverage on the topic.
Although it may be ridiculous to suggest that marijuana can enhance a fighter’s performance, the fact is that under current NSAC rules, the drug testing MMA fighters undergo includes a test for marijuana. It is crystal clear to fighters and their trainers what the rules are. Nick Diaz chose to defy the rules set forth by the same body that sanctions what he does for a living. If you don’t like the NSAC testing fighters for marijuana, you had better lobby them about it in the appropriate forum. Bitching about Diaz’s suspension after he broke the rules gets you nowhere.
Putting aside the question of whether marijuana can have a “positive impact” on a fighter’s performance, I don’t see any reason why marijuana testing should be removed from the drug tests. As long as marijuana is not the only illegal narcotic the NSAC tests for, and I don’t know if it is, then I am okay with the testing.
For me the question is this simple:
- Is marijuana an illegal substance?
- Is there a chance that consuming marijuana had any positive impact on Nick Diaz during his fight with Gomi?
The answer to both of those questions is, unequivocally, yes. Given that, how can you argue with the NSAC’s ruling in this case?
As mixed martial arts continues to grow and become one of the biggest sports in the country, why wouldn’t we want to ensure that our athletes are not breaking the law regularly? The fighters are the face of the sport everywhere they go. The problems that MMA has with how mainstream America perceives the sport are well documented. Lobbying to allow MMA fighters to fight while high on marijuana is the last thing we need to be doing.
“Although it may be ridiculous to suggest that marijuana can enhance a fighter’s performance, the fact is that under current NSAC rules, the drug testing MMA fighters undergo includes a test for marijuana. It is crystal clear to fighters and their trainers what the rules are. Nick Diaz chose to defy the rules set forth by the same body that sanctions what he does for a living. If you don’t like the NSAC testing fighters for marijuana, you had better lobby them about it in the appropriate forum. Bitching about Diaz’s suspension after he broke the rules gets you nowhere.”
The argument that fighters know it’s illegal to use marijuana and therefore should be eat punishment when they get caught is true. But that argument is true for any activity related to marijuana, MMA or not. For example, one could just as easily say ordinary citizens shouldn’t cry about charges for marijuana possession since they know if they get caught they’ll be subject to state and federal penalties. All true, but irrespective of the larger issue: none of that addresses whether testing fighters for marijuana - particularly with the unreliable urinalysis method - makes sense.
I would also add that the “appropriate forum” is precisely where we are. The argument that the real beef is with politicians and legislatures who can make marijuana legal is powerful, but that’s hardly the point. Those of us who believe this testing policy is based on faulty grounds and is unnecessarily harmful should underscore situations like Nick Diaz’s to drive the point home. Lobbying Congress for change is worthless until there is an awareness among its members and their constituents that the repercussions of making marijuana illegal are vast. They also happen to be completely avoidable. So highlighting Diaz’s situation is yet more proof that what are public officials are doing is irresponsible. The “appropriate forum” is every forum where you can get peoples’ attention.
I understand the pragmatism of “it’s the law, you know it’s the law, so why are you breaking the law?”. But laws aren’t smart, helpful, or ethical by virtue of their own existence. When its clear they are deeply harmful - and harmful for no clear reason - it is the responsibility of those who recognize their danger to speak out in whatever forum is available.
I’ll let NORML and the Marijuana Policy Project do the dirty work in Washington. My job is to use whatever limited capacity I have to affect change.
I think you and I are essentially in agreement. The root of the problem is at a higher level of policy-making than the NSAC, i.e. the federal government. What I was trying to say was, if making marijuana illegal is the concern, then the NSAC is not the one who can do much about it.
Also, I am not familiar with various methods of drug testing and the urinalysis method specifically. If it is indeed unreliable, then it should not be used as a test. Then again, we hear arguments all the time about how breathalyzers are not reliable as well.
Unfortunately like you said, political lobbies much more powerful than us don’t allow research on these tests to prove if they are valid one way or the other. Even if the research happens, they stifle the sharing of those results in the public arena.
Yes, we should make noise about unreliable testing. No, we shouldn’t expect the NSAC to *not* test at all until the law is different.
Dats so funny 2 read people trying 2 be smart asses! It makes me smile. The truth is that with dat drug testing failure Diaz will keep his win over Gomi, there is nothin 2 argue about. Marijuana is a drug!!
You’re right, there is nothing to argue about. It is done. The NSAC has already made the decision to overturn the fight ruling. The fight is officially now a NO CONTEST.
even if he got caught smoking weed i think it is awesome that he kicked gomis ass standing up even when everyone says gomi has one of the quickest hands in MMA. When u smoke weed ur reaction time slows down and it burns ur brains cells. well this guy kicked gomis ass high, that shows how good he really is or how shiit gomi really is….u guys choose which one u think it is….
I still think it’s ridiculous they wouldn’t let him corner his brother for TUF5. What, was he going to bring Nate a bong at the cageside - I DON’T THINK SO.
I have no respect for nick diaz winners don’t use drugs they are for loosers he cheated by going into the fight and rightly so he has been suspended so good and he was not allowed to corner his brother at the tuf 5 finally thugs use drugs pro athletes don’t and if he is the kind of person who smokes pot than I say kick him out of mma forever if I were ufc president the rules would be much stricter
this is for dman1102 you said Nick kicked Gomi ass? dude maybe you should take another look at nick face? a broken face BONE! Nick only won that fight because pot makes the person numb! if it wasnt for the weed Nick would of had been knocked the fuck out!!!
its a good thing people like g man, who arent capable of communicating coherent thoughts with the appropriate punctuation and prose, arent exposed to the miracle of ganja… it would be too much for their simple minds to handle… plus it means theres more for me!
nick diaz getting a no contest for weed? what a joke…
The real issue for Diaz fans is this:
Diego Sanchez tested positive for marijuana and no one said a thing about it for three months. When it was finally made public knowledge the punishment was a THREE MONTH SUSPENSION and a $500 FINE. That’s it! He beat Joe Riggs at Fight Night 7 and he still holds the win. His record still states that he has one loss and that loss is from Koscheck.
Why is there such a huge difference in the punishments between Sanchez and Diego?
Sanchez: Three month suspension, $500 fine, kept his win
Diaz: six month suspension, $3000 fine, win ruled no contest
This is complete bullshit!
I’m not a Diaz fan that thinks he shouldn’t be punished. Of course he should-it’s against the rules so punish him, but be fair about it. If you’re going to take away his win take Diego’s as well.
And what about all the fighters testing positive for steroids? Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca BOTH tested positive for roids after their fight. They WERE suspended for quite a while, but the fines were $2500—$500 less than Diaz was fined!! Plus, yep you guessed it, Sherk still holds the win against Franca AND still holds the belt.
I want to know why the fuck these organizations are getting away with such a harsh penalyy against Diaz compared to others-espcially others who have done far worse.
All MMA fighters should be tested and treated exactly the same no matter what organization they fight in or where the fights take place.
Yeah, I meant to say: “Why is there such a huge difference in the punishments between Sanchez and Diaz?
Fucked that up…sorry!
he dick head david diaz how many times have you acutally smoked weed???? did you ever feel so numb you couldnt feel your legs??? didnt think so you incoherant shit. if you really think he could stand that kick breakin his face because of pot you are a pole smoker. that is complete utter bull shit wat you rote. ive had many knockabouts when stoned and ill tell you you fuckin feel everythin, its in the mind not in the body and if you really think that pot can make you numb, smoke a bong then go jump out infront of a moving car and loet me no how ya go you smack head!!!!!!
im a Nick Diaz fan. period. His punishment was fukd up… u shouldnt be smokin weed. evryone knows that. not just u, but anyone. its against our nations wonderful book of laws. and “diazfan”… u took the words right out of my mouth. wtf did they fukk diaz over for…
How can the NSAC state that he was under the influence of marijuana durring the fight? The test he was subjected to only tells if he had smoked weed some time in the last month! You cannot claim that the drug had any impact at all on this fight because you just don’t know if he smoked a blut just before the fight, or if he smoked one 3 weeks prior! This is B.S.!
Alright so Tim(no alot about pot) thank you , you shortened up this speech alot but I would still like to say that whoever thinks smoking a spliff makes you num enough to resist pain YOU ARE A FUCKING RETARD … I train and fight and I smoke alot of weed and party my ass off all day, its the canadian way but let me tell you every shot I take in the face whether im high or not hurts. And for all you americans who preach the constitution and think weed is as bad a drug as crack then you need to take a 2 week trip to canada and just smoke and drink your worries away cuz it aint no big deal around here, i know fuckin cops that smoke mroe dope then me lol believe it weed is basically legal north of your border. So im just gonna keep smokin and keep training and fighting and givin diaz his props cuz he through down the most serious gogoplata in the books and if he was high when he did that then damn he shouldn’t be suspended but instead rewarded. Congrats on the win Nick Big Ups to GSP for takin the title back #1 in the world. TUF 4 Life
FIRST….Cannabis does NOT make you numb your a idiot
SECOND…Cannabis does NOT kill your brain cells it thickens them moron (which actully preserves them and lengthens their life span)
THIRD….Cannabis is NOT a drug read a dictionary you ignorant f*ck its a plant that grows naturally free of any alteration(before 1938 it was used in a wide varity of medicines and worked very well)
FOURTH…I highly doubt he was high during the fight you can test dirty for over a month after consumeing the plant Hes a mma fighter hes Not going to slow his reaction time during a fight down think what your saying before you open your mouth.
FIFTH….Losers use Cannabis Ummm think what your saying about 1/3 of professional atheletes and citizens in the U.S. use it at least a few times a year (Carl Sagan J.F.K.’s space program advisor smoked everyday and he was smarter than anyone on the page and accomplished more in his life then any of you myself included in this statement)
SIXTH….GET A EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT BEFORE YOU SPEAK THEN MAYBE YOU WONT SOUND AS STUPID ON SECOND THOUGHT JUST DONT SPEAK NOTHING CAN CURE HOW STUPID YOU PEOPLE SOUND
yeah, this is just a case of protecting Gomi, had it been any other fighter he faced, this wouldn’t have happened, but because it was the champ, yeah he got screwed. wow…i can’t believe people think pot can numb you against pain…are you serious?