The Mixed Martial Arts fans could finally get to see Nick Diaz return to the cage after a long gap of three years.
This is after Diaz and USADA came to an agreement on a one-year suspension which will end on April 19, 2018, in turn making him eligible to return in a matter of ten days. USADA announced the same on their website.
“Like all UFC athletes, Diaz, 34, is a member of the UFC Registered Testing Pool and is therefore subject to certain Whereabouts responsibilities, which allow him to be located for out-of-competition testing. Diaz failed to be available for three tests at the locations provided in his Whereabouts Filings. The first two failures occurred in the second and third quarters of 2016, while the third occurred in the first quarter of 2017. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping policy violation.
Diaz’s one-year period of ineligibility began on April 19, 2017, the date on which his third Whereabouts Failure was declared against him. During his period of ineligibility, Diaz remained subject to no-advance-notice testing by USADA and did not accumulate any additional Whereabouts Failures. As such, Diaz will be eligible to return to competition upon the completion of his sanction on April 19, 2018.” The statement read.
Diaz, who last fought against Anderson Silva back in 2015 at UFC 183, was tested positive for Marijuana a few months after the fight. He was subsequently slapped with a five-year ban from the sport by Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The suspension, however, was later reduced to 18 months. He had originally lost his fight with Silva via a unanimous decision. But the result was overturned to a no-contest after Silva failed the dope test just a month before Diaz was suspended.
Diaz is one of the most iconic names in the sport and has a record of 26-9 to his name. Currently, he is on a two-fight skid with defeats against Carlos Condit and Georges St. Pierre. At the same time, Diaz has wins over BJ Penn, Robbie Lawler, Paul Daley and Evangelista Santos among others to showcase on his resume.