UFC star Nick Diaz facing suspension for anti-doping violation
Friday 30 June 2017 13:50, UK
UFC star Nick Diaz is facing a potential suspension for a possible anti-doping violation, the organisation has announced.
The 33-year-old from Stockton, California native has been provisionally suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for failing to disclose his whereabouts on three occasions within a 12-month period.
The UFC's anti-doping policy, which is overseen by USADA, requires fighters to inform the agency of their whereabouts to facilitate out-of-competition drug testing. Failure to do so can result in a suspension ranging from six months to two years.
A statement from the UFC said: "The UFC organisation has been notified that the US Anti-Doping Agency has informed Nick Diaz of a potential anti-doping policy violation stemming from Diaz's alleged accumulation of three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.
"Diaz, like all other UFC athletes, is enrolled in USADA's UFC registered testing pool and required to file accurate whereabouts information in order to be located for out-of-competition, no-notice testing.
"USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC anti-doping policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of Diaz's case, who has been provisionally suspended pending the final resolution of this matter.
"Under the UFC anti-doping policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward."
Diaz (26-9) has not fought since facing Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in January 2015. That fight was declared a no contest after Silva (the winner) failed a drug test.
Diaz tested positive for marijuana shortly afterwards and was banned for five years by the Nevada Athletic Commission, though the suspension was subsequently reduced to 18 months.
