MMA Mania has the news:
Controversial Strikeforce welterweight Nick Diaz could watch his August 15 title fight against Jay Hieron go up in smoke after missing his scheduled pre-fight drug test on August 7.
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) made arrangements with Strikeforce to reschedule Diaz for today (August 10), however, Diaz has yet to arrive at the testing facility.
The CSAC cannot accept a sample any later than this afternoon if it’s to be processed and reported in time for Saturday’s "Carano vs. Cyborg" event. Therefore, unless Diaz submits a sample today, his scheduled bout against Hieron will be scrapped.
From Scott Coker at the Strikeforce press conference:
Caesar Gracie told me Diaz [missed his Aug. 7 drug test because] he was in the mountains training. He's supposed to be on his way (right now) to Los Angeles to take his drug test with the California State Athletic Commission. He has until 3pm to get it done. We're hoping he makes the right decision. [If he does] we should have the results by Thursday. We have a contingency plan in place if necessary. Regardless, Jay Hieron will be fighting on August 15.
Dave Meltzer comments:
"Well, hey listen, listen, I don't have any sympathy for the guy because he went, you know, he went in the LA Times and he bragged that he could beat a test at any time and that he was still doing it and he's the same guy who went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on the Gomi fight you know when he didn't want to be suspended and told them that he would never do it again.
It was a mistake and then you know he's bragging you know that's like I will grant you that I don't think that smoking pot is that of a big deal, I really don't. Now as far as it being illegal to be on pot while you are fighting, I can certainly understand why that is and that's the rules, but the whole point is that everyone knows what the rules are, you know what I mean?
It's like, if you can want to change the rules you can fight to change the rules and if the rules change, you know, that's fine. But these are the rules that you go by and what a lot of people don't seem to realize is that fighting is not a right, fighting is a privilege and being licensed to fight is a privilege, you know, it's not something that anyone can do because most people shouldn't be allowed to do it...
UPDATE: Loretta Hunt reports that Jesse Taylor has been submitted as a possible replacement if Diaz isn't licensed to compete:
Meanwhile, Jesse Taylor's name has been submitted for approval as a new opponent for Hieron, according to California State Athletic Commission Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed to Sherdog.com that Taylor is the only fighter that has been presented as a replacement at this time.
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