Nick Diaz and 24 Bottles of Water

Oh Mary Jane, you’re such a harmless and stupid drug. And yet you seem to screw over so many people, especially professional athletes. If an actor or a musician gets caught using drugs, it’s either over looked or almost seen as romantic. But when an athlete is caught using drugs there are serious consequences. I suppose the idea is; the willful self destruction of the body that earns your livelihood is disgusting. So of course, you must be made an example of.

Nick Diaz’s trouble with drug failure began in 2007, after a vicious fight against Takanori Gomi at Pride 33.  Despite an impressive victory, Diaz tested positive for marijuana after the fight and it was declared a “No Contest”. Diaz was suspended for six months and fined 20% of his earnings.  The verdict was tough, but fair, Diaz did test pretty high for THC. (No pun intended) What was kind of ridiculous, were the accusations afterwards; that Diaz used marijuana as a performance enhancer. This sentiment is shared by the Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer and Dr. Anthony Alamo. Right, because pot really speeds up my reaction time and focus potential. Diaz is currently serving a yearlong suspension for testing positive for marijuana metabolites after his fight with Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Diaz will be eligible to compete around February 4^th.

According to a video interview posted by middleeasy, Kizer claimed he saw Diaz drink 24 bottles of water after his fight with Condit. Kizer went on to say that he drank that much water in an attempt to cover up any trace of THC. Despite claiming Diaz drank all that water, there was never a real confirmation that he personally saw it.

Maybe Diaz did drink an astronomical amount of water in a small instance. Either Diaz did drink all that water in a vain attempt to cover his tracks, or he was just dehydrated. For those of you wondering, water cannot permanently flush out marijuana metabolites.  And maybe Kizer made an exaggerated claim about how much water Diaz drank, to help support Diaz’s suspension.

But no matter how you look at it, who you think is lying and making BS claims, the fact remains; Diaz failed his drug test. I strongly agree with many out there that a yearlong suspension is outrageous. But this is the second time Diaz has failed a drug test, so apparently there are dire consequences. Unfortunately, marijuana has been so demonized in this country that we have unnecessarily harsh punishments.

All I can say is, hopefully Diaz has learned from this mistake and will return strong in February.