Diaz has had numerous issues with recreational drugs in the past. A 2009 win over Takanori Gomi was overturned due to a drug test failure for marijuana. He also failed another test for marijuana in 2012 following a interim welterweight title loss to Carlos Condit. That ended up scrapping a rematch between the two fighters, where Diaz would have been able to potentially capture UFC gold.
He also withdrew from a welterweight title fight in Strikeforce opposite Jay Hieron due to his refusal to submit to a drug test with the CSAC which his coach, Cesar Gracie, would later admit to being due to his marijuana use. Not only that, but he also spent a day in jail recently after accepting a plea deal on charges of driving under the influence.
That said, the NSAC’s comparably soft treatment of Anderson Silva, who failed multiple drug tests and was discovered to be using four different banned substances (including two anabolic steroids) makes it hard to feel as though the NSAC was not carry at least a bit of a grudge over one of their longtime foes. While Diaz’s refusal to answer questions (repeatedly pleading the fifth amendment when questioned) and his lawyer’s general hostility towards the NSAC likely didn’t help matters, the side-by-side comparison of Diaz to other recently punished fighters is most unflattering for the sanctioning body.
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