Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Is Nick Diaz's argument regarding marijuana metabolites persuasive enough? Will NSAC lift suspension?
Apr 19, 2012 - 2:35:02 PM ROUNDTABLE: Is Nick Diaz's argument regarding marijuana metabolites persuasive enough? Will NSAC lift suspension?

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Is the argument presented by Nick Diaz's attorney about marijuana metabolites in and of themselves not being a banned substance persuasive enough? Do you believe the NSAC will lift his suspension?


ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

With all the issues of banned substances or testosterone lately, the response to all of that comes to issues involving other factors that could have caused a failed test. Things become muddled, and what you're left with are fighters making excuses trying to find any legal loop hole that can help them from being suspended. Again, if you are on or taking something, then that's on you. Nick Diaz's claim of metabolites not being in of itself not being banned is just him and his lawyer pulling at straws. It's not getting lifted anytime soon.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think they'll reduce his suspension to six months or so. I think it could be one of those situations where they figure he deserves a suspension, just not a year.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I truly hope it does, especially since if they would have put Nick Diaz on the same ticket they have Alistair Overeem, Diaz would have looked like the no-nonsense kid with a halo over his head. The NSAC failed to follow their own rules, and therefore should stop complaining about some microscopic metabolites and let the man fight. He’s not using steroids, or testosterone, or any other performance enhancer – so let the man be with a small fine and stop complaining that he smoked a little weed an unknown amount of days or weeks prior to his fight. The fans don't care that he smoked, his opponent doesn't care, and the NSAC shouldn't because it sure isn't going to make him fight better. The arguments put forward by Diaz's attorney are absolutely as compelling as it gets and therefore totally slams the NSAC on their head as to what they can possibly to do punish Nick – which should be nothing.


ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I don't know. It sounds legally shrewd to me, if counter-intuitive. Then again, so do most arguments provided by lawyers.


SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH SENIOR COLUMNIST

I don't think the commission is likely to lift the suspension just because they don't have to. Do I think the argument is persuasive enough? For me, sure. I think it's stupid that they even test for it, to be quite honest. But it won't be enough for the commission. It should be, but I don't see it happening.

[Nick Diaz art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]