Nick Diaz a dope?

eoghan.geraghty

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The Nevada State Athletic Commission today handed down suspensions for mixed martial arts fighters Joe Pearson, Kit Cope, and Nick Diaz.

On January 20, 2007, following his loss on strikes to Urijah Faber, Joe Pearson tested positive for Delta-9-THC, which is the active ingredient found in marijuana. The NSAC today suspended Pearson for 6 months from the date of the fight and fined him 20 percent of his fight purse. That would put Pearson's suspension date at July 20, 2007. The amount of his fine totals $800 based on his fight purse of $4,000.

In his statements to the Commission, Pearson said, "I am very embarrassed, it will never happen again. This is not something that I do, it is a mistake that I made, not a habitual problem."

Kit Cope, who also fought and lost on January 20, 2007, failed his post-fight drug test. Cope tested positive for the anabolic agent Boldenone, considered a performance-enhancing agent. The commission cited comparisons between Cope's case and the case of Stephan Bonnar, who was also suspended for testing positive for Boldenone. Cope was subsequently suspended for 9 months from the date of the fight and fined one-third of his fight purse. Cope's suspension would run through October 20th, 2007 and his fined totaled $1,167 based on a reported fight purse of $5,000.

In addressing the Commission, Cope did not try to deny the test result. He did provide information that in December of 2005, he had reconstructive shoulder surgery and received "probably 30, 40 different shots" as part of his rehabilitative process. Cope indicated that the Boldenone could have been included somewhere in those injections, but that "it wasn't for performance enhancing."

Fighter Nick Diaz, following his defeat of Takanori Gomi on the February 24, 2007 Pride event in Las Vegas, Nevada, also tested positive for Delta-9-THC. The commission suspended Diaz for 6 months from the date of his fight, which would be August 24, 2007 and fined him $3,000, which was 20 percent of his reported $15,000 purse.

Though Diaz' disciplinary suspension will last six months, Diaz was already serving a six-month NSAC medical suspension due to a broken orbital bone suffered in the Gomi fight.

In addition to the suspension and fine, the NSAC also ruled that the result of the Diaz vs. Gomi contest be changed from a victory for Diaz to a result of no contest.

Apparently, the commission felt that the level for which Diaz tested at, 175, was a considering factor in his performance during the fight. Dr. Tony Alamo, the Commission's Chair, said that a result of 15 is considered positive, but that the NSAC has a threshold of 50 to test positive for THC and that they "feel very comfortable that everyone that tests positive [in Nevada] is truly positive."

Alamo went on to say, "Mr. Diaz was 175. This creates a unique situation. I was there at this fight and believe that you were intoxicated and... that it made you numb to the pain. Did it help you win? I think it did."

In his statements to the commission, Diaz said, "I wasn't under the influence when I was fighting. I don't abuse drugs normally; it was a one-time thing. It was very embarrassing for me to test positive."

He also pleaded for leniency from the Commission as he indicated that he is the primary provider for his household.

All the suspended fighters will have to provide a negative drug test to the NSAC before they will be allowed to fight again in the state of Nevada.




http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3754&zoneid=2

Dragan

A huge ammout on fighters have test positive for things over the las few months in Nevada. Diego Sanchez for dope, Ricco Rodriguez for dope and coke and maybe 20 other who's names i can't recall.

Valmont

I can't believe they changed it to a no-contest. The fine and suspension were right because you can't have people thinking its ok for pro fighters to smoke weed. Did they actually think Diaz got really high just before he got in the ring? muppets!

Dragan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CILaeOg6AVY

Have a look at the fight and see what you think.

goo

Valmont wrote:

I can't believe they changed it to a no-contest. The fine and suspension were right because you can't have people thinking its ok for pro fighters to smoke weed. Did they actually think Diaz got really high just before he got in the ring? muppets!

It was based on how much was in his system, not just that it was there, so maybe they did.

dlofnep

I can understand a fine or whatever, but weed isn't a performance enhancing drug. It's absolutely stupid and a terrible call. If he was stoned in the fight, it would cause him to dehydrate, so whatever minor positives he masy of got - they would be heavily outweighed by the negatives.

Diaz beat Gomi fair and square and now they NSAC are stealing that MAJOR win for him.

Dragan

In fairness, Diaz had THC levels which would indicate useage recent to the testing. He also had a broken orbital socket which is quite painful and was still happy enough to get punched in the face, so perhaps there is something to the NSAC point.

However, what worries me is a ring side doctor who will say "At the time i felt you were intoxicated" but did not stop the fight?

What would normal procedure be in those circumstances does anyone know?

columok

Beautiful gogoplata. (though that move lost it's appeal to me when I tried it on Riley and he showed me what the escape would do to my knee)

I just cant see how getting stoned would be a performance enhancer. Illegal yes but against a striker like Gomi the advantage of numbness is surely outweighed by the disadvantage of reaction time.

I'd be interested to hear an explanation from Diaz. Was it before the fight? Was it a week before? Did he swap samples with a local crustie to avoid a different something being detected...

Dragan

Nick has said it was a "one time thing" but everyone who ever failed a drug test for smoking dope has said that.

columok

Well with the alleged high reading I wonder whether it was several days before hand. THC takes something like a month completely leave the system (I believe it leaves linearly or near enough) so it could have been even a heavy session a week before.

cavedave

Why would you fight stoned? Is it even possible to fight stoned? You are more likely to end up hugging and giggling.
Would PCP or something not numb pain and make you a psycho?

Nick has said it was a "one time thing" but everyone who ever failed a drug test for smoking dope has said that.

Some people claim it was second hand smoke from a party.

I always thought drugs should not just be allowed in sport but mandatory. Watching cycling is pretty boring but give them a coctail of hallucnigens and you could have a something worth watching.

HammerHeadGym

Wow. If someone had that much THC in his system, and it was fresh (i.e. a bifter in the parking lott before the fight) he would be flat out wrecked. Far too wrecked to have given that performance. I work in a grow shop, so we pretty much just discuss thc and it's effects all day long. I think if he was high he should be given two bleedin medals, because as anyone who's ever had a spar while baked will tell you, it's hard work, especially when you get a belt in the face. ( I was in Amsterdam once, where it's legal to consume this wonderful herb, although I wouldn't recommend anyone else trying it)

Anyway, joking aside, I doubt if he was high, because if he wanted a painkiller or whatever for his orbital bone, there are far more effective painkillers out there, that are totally legal and wouldn't even show up on drug tests. Why do they even test for cannabis anyway? It's in no way performance enhancing?

Roper

No, but it makes you think its performance enhancing, after you've had a 2 hour conversation about it with your mate. Dangerous!

HammerHeadGym

After a two hour dope conversation, anyone could be convinced that anything was performance enhancing. I like to watch science programs and convince myself to get cybernetic enhancements. I am giving very serious thought to titanium shins at the moment.

Roper

I was talking to an orthapedic surgeons assistant at a party one night and after much wrangling got her to agree that it was basically possible to get a titanium replacement for almost any bone in your body. Then I asked "and what about some that aren'tin your body, I mean, could you get extra bits fitted?". I was specifically talking about claws but then she started laughing and said I was funny. There was no going back then, I had to pretend I had been joking. But yeah titanium shins would be cool, and helpful!

HammerHeadGym

:eek: :eek:

Is that true Roper? A woman actually spoke to you?

Seriously though, it would be possible to get titanium shins? I thought that the metal would wear down the the bones that remained behind. Hmm, I'd show those leg kickin bastard Thai's then. Any idea how much 2 new shins would set a guy back? And 2 new radiuses as weel, for me arms?

Khannie

Once the titanium replacement was machined to a very high standard, it shouldn't affect your other bones. Sounds like just the ticket. Could be hassle in the airport though......

Roper

Ain't no man taking that route with me! especially when I get my other fittings, and by that I mean my Wolverine claws.

Hammerhead wrote:

Is that true Roper? A woman actually spoke to you?

No, I was sort of hanging around on the edge of her other conversations.... but she did hiss at me!

eoghan.geraghty

Roper wrote:

I was talking to an orthapedic surgeons assistant at a party one night and after much wrangling got her to agree that it was basically possible to get a titanium replacement for almost any bone in your body. Then I asked "and what about some that aren'tin your body, I mean, could you get extra bits fitted?". I was specifically talking about claws but then she started laughing and said I was funny. There was no going back then, I had to pretend I had been joking. But yeah titanium shins would be cool, and helpful!

Sorry to burst your bubble here but i have a titanium pin in my leg and those thai low kicks are still a bitch.
Adamantium claws on the other hand.......:D

Valmont

You could also get titanium pointed elbows and never have to worry about passing guard again!