Nick Diaz accepts one-year USADA suspension for missed tests, eligible to fight next week

Nick Diaz may or may not be retired, but his case with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is almost in the rear-view mirror.

UFC anti-doping partner USADA today announced that Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) accepted a one-year suspension for missing three attempts to drug test him within a 12-month timeframe, retroactive to his third miss on April 19, 2017 – which means he’s eligible to compete next week.

Diaz, 34, is part of the registered testing pool for the UFC’s anti-doping program, which means he must make himself available to drug testing at all times and submit quarterly information on his whereabouts.

Although Diaz submitted his whereabouts information as part of his responsibilities with USADA, he “failed to be available for three tests at the locations provided,” according to a press release.

“The first two failures occurred in the second and third quarters of 2016, while the third occurred in the first quarter of 2017,” USADA stated. “Under the UFC anti-doping policy, the accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping policy violation.”

Because Diaz made himself available to no-notice testing, USADA said, he will be cleared to fight next week.

The onetime UFC welterweight title challenger was notified of the potential violation in January.

Of course, it’s not the first time Diaz has found himself in trouble with regulators. He has been suspended three times for his use of marijuana, the last of which initially resulted in a lifetime ban and a massive public outcry that prompted the Nevada State Athletic Commission to shorten the sentence.

Since then, Diaz’s MMA future has been in question. UFC anti-doping czar Jeff Novitzky expressed optimism about a return, but UFC President Dana White has said Diaz doesn’t want to fight any more.

“I can’t speak for him, you’d have to speak with Nick himself … I don’t think Nick Diaz will ever fight again,” White said last year. “I just don’t think he has the desire anymore.”

According to Diaz’s younger brother, UFC star Nate Diaz, a return hasn’t been ruled out. It just needs to be the right offer.

Diaz hasn’t fought since losing a decision in January 2015 against Anderson Silva.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.