Nate Diaz involvement in UFC 244 next weekend is in serious doubt after the Californian tested positive for a banned substance, according to the fighter's social media account.
Diaz was due to fight Jorge Masvidal in Madison Square Garden next Saturday night after returning from a three-year lay-off in August to beat Anthony Pettis.
In a post on Twitter to his followers the 34-year-old said he "tested with elevated levels that they say might be from some tainted supplements."
The outspoken icon however continued to say: "I call false on that cause. I only take Whole Food and natural food supplements."
Your all on steroids not me pic.twitter.com/ykrZmRIoPS
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 24, 2019
Immediately after Diaz made this revelation, some fellow professionals rushed to defend the American, including Masvidal.
You not the baddest mofo in the game (i am) but you are one of the cleanest mofo’s @NateDiaz209 I’ll see you nov 2. I know your name is clean. I don’t need @usantidoping to tell me shit!
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) October 24, 2019
I know you feel like someone is setting you up, that’s exactly how I felt. At times its going to feel like a pretty hopeless situation but maybe it’s not, you can’t just give up and do nothing. This is a different type of fight man, you owe it to your fans to fight it.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 24, 2019
However, some of his other peers from the sport weren't quite so forgiving of the man who has accused fellow fighters of taking steroids in the past.
guess when nate diaz said everyone was on steroids he was including himself 😂
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) October 24, 2019
Breaking news @NateDiaz209 is on steroids 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) October 24, 2019
****You’re 😂 https://t.co/rCZsvYEi3Q
— Funky (@Benaskren) October 24, 2019
The UFC have yet to respond to these revelations, and therefore the fight is still scheduled to go ahead. Moreover, Diaz had not yet been suspended, according to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.
