UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz, following a controversial loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February, fell into more controversy when he tested positive for marijuana metabolites following the fight.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has put Diaz under a temporary suspension until a full disciplinary hearing takes place later this year, likely in April.
“My stance on the whole thing is… it’s not allowed. You’re not allowed to do it. Whatever the commission says you’re not allowed to do, you’re not allowed to do. It doesn’t matter what I think,” UFC president Dana White stated in a meeting with reporters following Tuesday’s UFC 146 press conference in Las Vegas.
“I don’t smoke weed. It’s not my thing. It’s illegal; you can’t do it. I can’t present an argument for why (Nick Diaz) should be cool to have marijuana in his system.”
Does White want Diaz in the Octagon again? Yes… emphatically.
Diaz, who has constantly had a love-hate relationship with the outside-of-the-cage aspect of fighting, however, has bantered about the idea of retiring from the sport, saying that he’s tired of the politics.
That is definitely something that White doesn’t want. “I think if he retired it would be the most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my life. The kid is right now at the pinnacle of his career as far as his talent goes, as far as being a well rounded fighter.”
White, however, hasn’t spoken to Diaz since the fight in early February. So just where Diaz’s head is at in relationship to his career remains a mystery.
White also talked at length about testosterone replacement therapy and steroids and what he and the UFC are doing to try and clean up drug abuse in their sport. Watch the full video below for more from Dana White…