[Caligula]

This is a huge step in the right direction for us patients and medical marijuana is general. I hope the CSAC starts to recognize medical cannabis; and implements some sort of system that allows fighters to use their medicine and still be able to compete without the fear of testing positive.

Diaz Eyes Oct. Dream, Rep Meets With CSAC

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com)

Meanwhile, Gracie met with CSAC officials on Friday to discuss Diaz’s re-licensing and the testing procedures he will be placed under moving forward.

Gracie and CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas discussed the possibility of the state agency adopting a “Theraputic Usage Exemption” program, utilized by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). According to the WADA Web site, a TUE would allow an athlete to take medication that appears on the WADA Prohibited list without facing penalties.

Clarifying statements Gracie made to Sherdog.com last week, the trainer said an arrangement to test Diaz only on the night of his scheduled bouts was made between Diaz’ former employer, Pro Elite, and Garcia. Gracie also specified that the promotion relayed the agreement to him, not Garcia.

Both Gracie and Douglas told Sherdog.com that a former Pro Elite employee also attended the meeting to corroborate Gracie’s assertion that an agreement had been in place. Douglas said he had no knowledge of the agreement prior to Gracie telling him.

Gracie said he hopes Diaz will be granted an exemption for marijuana while out of competition, and that the fighter will abide by the testing procedures during competition.

“He does need (marijuana),” said Gracie. “He has ADHD and he’s had a prescription for Ritalin since he was a kid. He doesn’t want to take that. That’s worse than pot.”

Douglas called the meeting “extremely positive.”

“We don’t have a TUE program in California yet, not to say we won’t,” Douglas told Sherdog.com Monday. “I pledged to have the CSAC staff work with Gracie and his reps, because putting a TUE program together to present to the commission will take time and effort, as well as feedback from many parties. We can put the plan together, but ultimately the commission has to vote for it.”

Douglas said the first step will be to secure a date to present the idea to the commission board, but noted that if the commission is receptive, the entire process of incorporating the system could take up to a year.

In the meantime, Gracie said Diaz could be tested for re-licensure as early as in a few weeks. Gracie said Diaz would cease using marijuana during that time in order to pass the necessary testing.

Douglas recommended Diaz be ready for the testing this time around.

“I think that as soon as he finds out he has a fight, he’d need to do what he needs to,” said Douglas.

Diaz vs. Sakurai Considered for October DREAM; Drug Use Could be Deemed 'Therapeutic'

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
by Jake Rossen (jrossen@sherdog.com)

Japan: land of opportunity for men who don’t get along with athletic commissions. Sherdog reports that Nick Diaz, ousted from Saturday’s Strikeforce card due to failure to appear for a drug test, is considering an October DREAM date, possibly against Hayato "Mach" Sakurai.

That’s swell, but the real interest comes in a mention that the California State Athletic Commission is investigating something called a “Therapeutic Usage Exemption Program,” which would collude with physicians to allow athletes with valid reasons for using banned substances to compete.

Where marijuana differs is that it could still be construed as a performance-altering compound even if, as trainer Cesar Gracie alleges, he needs it to treat his ADHD. His levels would need to still be considered ineffectual during the time in which he’s tested. (In his win over Takanori Gomi in 2007 that was overturned, Diaz’ levels were four times Nevada’s cutoff point. At one point in the fight, you can actually see him levitate.)

As for his Japan vacation, Diaz may want to think carefully before bringing anything over: the penalty for marijuana in Japan is substantially worse than in the U.S. While most first-time offenders skate, it’s theoretically possible to serve up to five years in jail for possession.

[Jeffster]

Thanks for posting this Caligula. I hope Diaz is successful with his medical exemption, and I hope his case helps more people see that MMJ helps so many of us.

[Caligula]

WAR NICK DIAZ!!!!

P.S. This is the fight that Nick tested positive for marijuana after. Following his positive test, NSAC officials suspended Diaz and ruled the fight a NC (no contest).

[VENOM]

Nick Diaz. The Next StrikeForce Welterweight Champion! Mark my words!

[VENOM]

Hey Caligula,
I was at the Diaz/Gomi fight in Vegas. It was a complete Diaz domination of the #1 Lightweight in the world, at the time. Gomi just didn't look like himself in that fight.

War Diaz!

[Medpatient]

this is a huge step for MMJ. Get the athletics boards on board and the movement can go places and big places.

[ill_repute]

Diaz vs Gomi is by far my favorite fight to watch......ever. Thats BS that they ruled that fight a no decision. Especially since guys have tested positive for real performance enhancing drugs like steroids got to keep their wins.

I remember back in March (I think) Diaz wasnt even allowed to test in order to get on a fight card (thanks to Armando Garcia, former director of the Cali State Athletic Commision) simply because he tested positive before and still had a valid rec. Cesar Gracie talked about a lawsuit but I dont think it ever happened. The CSAC is a state sanctioning program and in California the rec is legally valid. I wish they would have went after that lawsuit, that would have been great.

On a side note, Diaz signed a boxing deal last Thursday.

[Medpatient]

Originally Posted by ill_repute

Diaz vs Gomi is by far my favorite fight to watch......ever. Thats BS that they ruled that fight a no decision. Especially since guys have tested positive for real performance enhancing drugs like steroids got to keep their wins.

I remember back in March (I think) Diaz wasnt even allowed to test in order to get on a fight card (thanks to Armando Garcia, former director of the Cali State Athletic Commision) simply because he tested positive before and still had a valid rec. Cesar Gracie talked about a lawsuit but I dont think it ever happened. The CSAC is a state sanctioning program and in California the rec is legally valid. I wish they would have went after that lawsuit, that would have been great.

On a side note, Diaz signed a boxing deal last Thursday.

I agree, that fight was hands down one of the best I have seen.

So is Diaz still going to fight MMA or is he going to switch over to boxing, have you heard anything on that Ill.

[Caligula]

Originally Posted by Medpatient

I agree, that fight was hands down one of the best I have seen.

So is Diaz still going to fight MMA or is he going to switch over to boxing, have you heard anything on that Ill.

He's most likely gonna have a MMA fight over in Japan for the DREAM organization in October. I know he's signed with Strikeforce, and that they want to put together a welterweight championship bout with him and Jay Hieron. So it looks like he's gonna continue doing MMA and possibly some boxing.

Diaz vs. Sakurai Considered for October DREAM; Drug Use Could be Deemed 'Therapeutic'

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
by Jake Rossen (jrossen@sherdog.com)

Japan: land of opportunity for men who don’t get along with athletic commissions. Sherdog reports that Nick Diaz, ousted from Saturday’s Strikeforce card due to failure to appear for a drug test, is considering an October DREAM date, possibly against Hayato "Mach" Sakurai.

Scott Coker: Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron Strikeforce title fight could happen by year's end

Although skipping a mandatory drug test cost the fighter a welterweight title shot and a spot on this past Saturday's "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg" card, Nick Diaz could still get a shot at the belt by year's end.

That's according to Strikeforce CEO and co-founder Scott Coker, who discussed the Diaz situation following Saturday's Showtime-broadcast event.

If and when licensed by the California State Athletic Commission, Diaz (20-7) is expected to fight for the title against his originally scheduled opponent, Jay Hieron (18-4).

Just a week before Hieron, who said he recently signed his deal with Strikeforce (and turned down an offer from the UFC) largely because of the promised title fight, was set to meet Diaz, who skipped a mandatory drug test and was knocked off the card. Hieron went from a fighting for the title on the televised main card to a meeting with Jesse Taylor, who took the fight on just a week's notice, on the un-aired preliminary card.

The move cost Hieron sponsor money and valuable exposure.

"It was stressful," Hieron said after his unanimous-decision win over Taylor. "I was lying to myself saying it's doesn't bother me.

"Of course, that was a deciding factor for me to go with Strikeforce – for Nick Diaz and the title fight. But that didn't happen."

But it could.

According to Coker, Diaz and his manager, Cesar Gracie, are already planning to meet with the California State Athletic Commission to resolve the situation.

"We had a conversation with Cesar Gracie about the Nick Diaz situation, so I feel very comfortable Nick will be back shortly," Coker said. "I think he's going to meet with the athletic commission, get that all worked out, and hopefully we'll see Nick back here before the end of the year."

Will Diaz be punished by the organization and lose his shot at the belt? Or is the Diaz vs. Hieron title fight still the plan?

"Jay Hieron came here to fight Nick Diaz, so we will put that fight together," Coker said.

While Coker never criticized the fighter and was quick to remind reporters that Diaz is trying to rectify the situation, the fight executive did have to remind Diaz just how costly his decision was and how future lapses in judgment could affect the organization.

"Basically, I expressed my concerns and our feelings, and the feelings of Showtime, saying, 'Look, when we're promoting a main event, you have certain responsibilities to do your part because we're going to do out part," he said. "He's going to sit down with (CSAC executive) Bill Douglas and the commissioner and work something out. ... Once he's licensed and cleared – he's not even under suspension; he just never showed up for his licensing. He's not licensed yet. When he's licensed, we'll plan to fight him after his license (is given).

"[Diaz] apologized. He said, 'I'm really sorry.' He's actually a good kid."

Hieron, a former UFC, IFL and Affliction fighter, has now won six consecutive fights and eight of his past nine to garner worldwide top-10 consideration in his weight class. Diaz, a former lightweight who's hopped around the weight classes and even took a catch-weight fight with middleweight Frank Shamrock earlier this year, owns a five-fight win streak and is 9-1 since May 2006.

"I think that's a great, exciting fight," Hieron said of Diaz. "That's the fight I want. I know the fans probably want to see it, so hopefully they make that happen."

[Medpatient]

Originally Posted by Caligula

He's most likely gonna have a MMA fight over in Japan for the DREAM organization in October. I know he's signed with Strikeforce, and that they want to put together a welterweight championship bout with him and Jay Hieron. So it looks like he's gonna continue doing MMA and possibly some boxing.

Diaz vs. Sakurai Considered for October DREAM; Drug Use Could be Deemed 'Therapeutic'



Scott Coker: Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron Strikeforce title fight could happen by year's end

thanks for the info, really appreciate it. I would hate to see Diaz leave MMA

[ill_repute]

Originally Posted by Medpatient

I agree, that fight was hands down one of the best I have seen.

So is Diaz still going to fight MMA or is he going to switch over to boxing, have you heard anything on that Ill.

Diaz will still fight MMA....he will probably fight Heiron in the fall, as well as Mach Sakurai in Japan.

He has a pro boxing match already, he beat Alfonso Rocha in 4 rounds, but that was a few years back.

The guy trains like a freak, he was saying once how he does triathlons just for fun.

[Medpatient]

Originally Posted by ill_repute

Diaz will still fight MMA....he will probably fight Heiron in the fall, as well as Mach Sakurai in Japan.

He has a pro boxing match already, he beat Alfonso Rocha in 4 rounds, but that was a few years back.

The guy trains like a freak, he was saying once how he does triathlons just for fun.

LOL does triathlons for fun, I could only wish I had that much energy and motivation.

[Caligula]

WAR NICK DIAZ!!!!

[ill_repute]

Diaz to Gomi "You're my bitch"
(at least I think thats what he said)