Nick Diaz, who was banned for five years and fined $165,000 due to marijuana use, seemed to have unintentionally gathered sympathies not just from trainer Jason Heit, but also from the UFC's women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and boxing's undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Heit called Nick Diaz's punishment a "tipping point," calling it "absolutely insane," The Hamilton Spectator learned. The former fighter, with the Canadian marijuana advocates' support, called for a boycott on all Nevada State Athletic events until the punishment and fine are dropped, and exemption allowed for patients using cannabis for medical purposes.
Rousey was dismayed at the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) for its decision, saying it wasn't right for Diaz to be suspended. She said that weed is not a performance-enhancing drug and it has nothing to do with athletic competition.
"Nick is a very close and dear friend of mine, so of course I'm going to defend him, but it's so unfair if one person tests for steroids that could actually hurt a person and the other person smokes a plant that makes him happy and he gets suspended for five years," she added.
Diaz was issued a longer suspension compared with Anderson Silva, who tested positive for steroids. Silva only had a year of suspension and can already return to the Octagon as early as February.
Mayweather Jr. seems to be backing up Rousey's stance. On the Mayweather Boxing Channel, he was asked if he heard about Nick Diaz's suspension and what his thoughts are about it.
His reaction was rather surprising. See 0:46 on the video below.
Then he said, "Let that man smoke weed and enjoy his life!"
Diaz was caught twice — in 2007 and 2012 — and this is already the third time. Weed is prohibited in competition by the NAC, which also uses the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, MMA Fighting reported.
While others don't agree with the five-year suspension, Commissioner Pat Lundvall even recommended a lifetime ban for Diaz.
"It's upsetting," Diaz told TMZ Sports when he was asked about the punishment. "I gave my life to this."
"All my attention goes towards fighting, and now I don't know if I can fight. They've taken it away from me," he added.
What do you think guys? Was the punishment too harsh?
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