Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has received a 12 month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout with Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Feb. 4, 2012.

The suspension is retroactively dated, meaning he will be eligible to seek licensure to fight again on Feb. 4, 2013. Diaz has also been fined 30 percent of his $200,000 purse and 30 percent of his $65,000  “fight of the night” bonus.

The NSAC arrived at their ruling after hours of testimony and deliberation on Monday in Las Vegas. Because Diaz lost his bout with Condit, there is no need for the Commission to overturn the bout result.

Following his bout with Condit, Diaz said he was walking away from the MMA game. He was scheduled to take part in a BJJ “superfight” against Braulio Estima at the 2012 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo earlier this month, however, pulled out when Estima failed to initially make weight.

Whether Diaz will return to the MMA cage remains to be seen. With the suspension, at the very least he will be out until early 2013.

Leave a Reply