Nate Diaz wrote Thursday on social media that he will no longer be competing at UFC 244.
Diaz, who was scheduled to headline the event Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden against Jorge Masvidal, wrote that he had an adverse drug-test finding and will not make the trip to New York until things get figured out. Diaz wrote that he was told he had “elevated levels” that might have come from a tainted supplement. He did not specify who told him that or what the prohibited substance might be.
UFC 244 was set to be one of the biggest pay-per-view events of the year for the promotion. In the post, Diaz adamantly denies taking any banned drugs.
“I only take Whole Foods or natural food supplements,” Diaz wrote. “I don’t even eat meat. So until UFC, USADA or whoever is F—ING with me fixes it I won’t be competing.”
Diaz went on to write he was told to hide the drug-test results or keep it quiet and he didn’t want to do that.
“I don’t give a f— about some money over my dignity and my legacy,” Diaz wrote. “I’m not playing along with this bulls—. I’m not staying quiet and figuring it out after the fight. That’s cheating.”
Requests for comment from USADA, the UFC’s anti-doping partner, and the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) were not immediately returned. UFC president Dana White was not immediately available for comment.
Masvidal’s team was unaware of the situation until Diaz’s tweet, a source told ESPN. Masvidal tweeted that he’d like to fight Diaz regardless of what a drug test said.
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