Diaz (photo) received a five-year suspension. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Nick Diaz received a heavy punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission for doping in his last fight, in January, against Anderson Silva. The North American was suspended for five years, plus a fine of US$165, after the trial held this Monday (14), in Las Vegas (USA).
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Diaz, who originally lost to Anderson in the judges' decision, fell into doping because traces of cannabis, a substance present in marijuana, were detected in his body. Even though it is a substance that is not used to improve performance, the Nevada Commission declared that the punishment was given taking into account that the fighter was involved in doping for the third time for the same reason: the first, in February 2007, and the second, in February 2012.
During the trial, there were moments of tension between Diaz's defense and the commissioners. The fighter's lawyer, Lucas Middlebrook, alleged that there were irregularities in Diaz's test, as a form indicated that the samples belonged to the fighter – when, in fact, they should be anonymous, especially in the case of an internationally renowned fighter. Furthermore, the defense stated that there were two tests that were negative, one carried out shortly before and another shortly after the sample that indicated positive.
Another moment of tension between the defense and the commission was when the fighter refused to speak out, something that is reserved by right under the United States Constitution. Even so, Commissioner Pat Lundvall even considered a lifetime ban for Diaz, although the other members of the bench agreed on a five-year punishment.
The fighter's lawyer stated that he will appeal the decision, as he considered the punishment excessively heavy due to, according to his words, personal disagreements with the commissioners.
If the appeal is not heard, Diaz would only return to fights in February 2020, when he would be 36 years old. The fight against Anderson was reversed to a no contest, as the Brazilian also fell victim to doping, using anabolic steroids, and received a one-year suspension.
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