mma / Columns

Nick Diaz’s Suspension: An Issue of Incompetence

September 18, 2015 | Posted by Lorenzo Vasquez

The Nevada State Athletic Commission, the foremost authority where commissions are concerned in professional mixed martial arts and tyrants of some sort. That’s correct. Tyrants, or you can also say, an inept crew of cronies, providing a growing professional combat sport an unjust service—from handing down harsh and undeserved punishments to giving the guilty undeserved leniency. This group of incompetent commission members shifts the balance of justice and is more willing than not to strike down decisions brimming with transgression.

They are unconscionable and would rather provide a disservice to the sport by, for example, helping to ensure a big money fight stays together than not licensing a repeat offender who was busted much less than a year earlier. Yeah, I’m talking about you Vitor Belfort so maybe you should hush-up before spouting accusations of your own. Anyways, on Monday, the commission did itself no favors to clear its name when they suspended Nick Diaz for five-years, in addition to a fine, for testing positive for marijuana after his fight with Anderson Silva this past January. It was Diaz’s third offense, his priors occurring in 2007 and 2012, however, going on that alone still makes the punishment excessive and a grand show of immaturity and abuse of power.

Don’t get me wrong. Breaking the rules is breaking the rules and justice is due where an infraction has occurred. But, to be clear, I’m not here to say Diaz did no wrong. However, I will say abuse of authority is more than beyond wrong and that is what the NSAC is blatantly guilty of here. A 36 month suspension—3 years—in addition to the fine, okay, that’s more reasonable for the offense, but five years? That is just beyond ridiculous and when you consider the story that unraveled during the commission’s hearing on Monday, it makes even less sense. For the steps forward the commission seemed to be taking it has made a 180 degree turn and took some steps back and I’m doubtful this will ever change without major transformation. And I mean major!

I’m sure you have read or heard by now Nick Diaz and his legal team delivered a solid and sensible defense in front of the commission. In fact, his defense made a ton of sense in an arena much more akin to a circus when you consider the defenses which have been brought forth in the past. Nonetheless, the commission disregarded a sound defense and obvious evidence to justify that defense.

They shooed it away like a fly hovering over their dinner plate. Very casually and tried to make a mockery of Diaz. And in doing so they undermined their own testing program and legitimacy. The only example made Monday was that of the commission’s incompetence.

The NSAC let the matter turn personal and proved once again they are unable to keep its handlings on a professional level. They pushed aside negative test results form two World Anti-Doping Agency accredited labs in favor of a questionable positive test result from a non-WADA accredited lab that does not specialize in the detection of performance-enhancing-drugs. They did not care and it was made obvious Diaz was doomed from the get go. It’s as if they wanted any excuse to burn Diaz and found it in a shady test result.

And the fact that this is all for marijuana just makes the whole thing more absurd; especially, when you consider his opponent, Anderson Silva, tested positive for steroids on both pre- and post-fight test and walked away with a year suspension (slap on the hand). Yes, I know marijuana is a banned substance, but is it as dangerous as steroids in combat sports? The inconsistency in which the NSAC hands out punishments is staggering. It’s sad to watch and read about. It’s sadder, however, that the fighters have to deal with such an inept commission. They deserve better at this stage in the game; but, it still seems a time away before things improve.

The fighters shouldn’t have to play the commission’s games. They should be allowed due process and the ability to mount a sound defense without being lashed out on and treated/disciplined unreasonably.

article topics :

Nick Diaz, NSAC, UFC, Lorenzo Vasquez