Nick Diaz’s Five Year Suspension Is Justified

Earlier this week, the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down Nick Diaz a suspension of five years and a hefty fine for his failed drug test at UFC 183. Diaz’s latest drug test failure was for marijuana, and it was his third offense. Obviously, due to Diaz’s massive popularity and fanbase, this is a very controversial decision and an unpopular one to many. UFC analyst and color commentator Joe Rogan, a noted marijuana advocate, labeled it an abuse of power. When things like this happen, it once again brings up the loud and fervent arguments about PEDs and why “marijuana is not a PED.” As a result, since marijuana is not a PED, commissions shouldn’t test for it.

At this point, while I have enjoyed some of Diaz’s classic fights and style over his historic career, it is hard to feel bad for him getting hit with this decision. Diaz had already “retired” and walked away from the sport twice. In the past, he’s voiced his hate and dislike for fighting. In terms of his personality, he comes off as bipolar and maladjusted. He always seemed paranoid when it came to his MMA career. From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like he had people in his inner-circle who were enabling some of his bad habits. His previous coach and manager Cesar Gracie always seemed to make excuses for Diaz and further enabled his bad behvaior.

No matter how you feel about Diaz and marijuana, this was his third failed drug test in Nevada. No, I do not think marijuana is a PED. However, not all banned substances by the athletic commissions are against the rules because of performance enhancing issues. Some are banned because they risk fighter safety or a further danger to the fighter’s health going into a fight. If you look at the recently instituted harsher rules and penalties by the NSAC, things like recreational drugs, cannabis, and opiates are the group of banned substances that fighters will receive lighter suspensions for. However, after a while, if you continue failing the tests, the punishments will stack up.

This was Nick Diaz’s third offense. He is a grown man in his 30s. He knows what the rules are. The rules may be excessive and harsh, but he still has to follow them. He can’t just stick his middle finger up at the regulators all the time and expect everyone to fall in love with his bad boy attitude. For far too long has Diaz hid behind a veil of ignorance and not knowing any better. Considering he’s already retired from the sport at least twice before, maybe not this time his punishment will make it stick.

In the past, Diaz got off light and easy with insubordinate behavior. His first failed drug test for marijuana was basically a slap on the wrist. He got a six month suspension after Pride FC 33. The biggest win of his career up to that point against Takanori Gomi was reversed and turned into a No Contest. That right there should have been his wake-up call. However, one of his worst offenses came in August 2009, when he no showed his scheduled title bout with Jay Hieron in Strikeforce. Diaz did not report to California out of fear of failing a drug test. Coker foolishly did not punish Diaz at all after this. Hieron signed for a title fight, which he never received. Diaz later returned and got his title fight anyway despite this insubordinate behavior.

People like Nick Diaz because of his brash style and attitude. Undeniably, when he gets into a cage, his fights are exciting. He has an unorthodox boxing style, and he taunts fighters to come and bring it. It is no surprise why people like this style. However, when I listen to Diaz’s interviews, I constantly feel like being in MMA is probably not the best thing for his mental well-being. Obviously, he’s done it in order to make a living, and hopefully he has saved up enough money to live comfortably. This is despite previous claims that he’s never paid taxes in his life, which would not be hard to believe.

The biggest problem I see with Diaz though is that he’s never taken responsibility for his actions or bad behavior. He’s never apologized. And with all that in mind, it’s hard to feel sorry for his latest suspension. Considering how much he’s gotten away with in the past with basically no much punishment at all, I see no problem with him getting handed a five-year suspension.