Nate Diaz gets public warning from USADA over UFC 202 post-fight vape pen use

UFC veteran Nate Diaz raised eyebrows when he openly pulled from a vape pen following a decision loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 202.

But UFC anti-doping partner USADA announced today he will not face any disciplinary action.

Diaz “has admitted using a prohibited substance during the in-competition period and has accepted a public warning for his policy violation,” according to a press release issued today by USADA on its website.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which regulated the Aug. 20 pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, declined to pursue Diaz, noting the fighter had already taken an in-competition drug test.

USADA, which conducted that test as part of a working relationship with the NSAC, opened an investigation into the matter following Diaz’s onstage admission that he was vaping from a pen that contained CBD oil, or CBD, which is one of 113 active cannabinoids found in cannabis. CBD has been used in the treatment of schizophrenia, epilepsy and other conditions, and clinical studies show a lack of psychoactivity like a user would get with traditional marijuana.

Although Diaz technically used the cannabidiol within the six-hour time frame considered to be “in-competition” following his bout (see highlights of his post-fight meeting with the media above and his full post-fight interview below), USADA elected to not punish the fighter because he “mistakenly believed that the in-competition period ended after he provided a post-bout sample to USADA.”

“In addition, the in-competition urine and blood samples provided by Diaz before his admitted use were analyzed and reported as negative for all prohibited substances, including Cannabinoids,” the release stated. “Based on these circumstances, USADA determined that a public warning was an appropriate response to Diaz’s use of a specified substance during the in-competition period.”

Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) delivered a “Fight of the Year” offering in a welterweight rematch against McGregor (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who took home a majority decision. The fighter from Stockton, Calif., hasn’t fought since, but he’s popped up on Twitter to criticize a booking between McGregor and lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

Diaz still faces disciplinary action from the NSAC for a press conference fracas with McGregor. As previously reported, Diaz will request a delay to his hearing while McGregor will go before the commission on Oct. 10 in Las Vegas.

For more on UFC 202, check out the UFC Events section of the site.