American judo Olympian Nick Delpopolo expelled for positive marijuana test

Well, it looks like Nick Diaz can make a new friend.

American judo fighter Nick Delpopolo was expelled from the Olympics for doping earlier today (literally), after testing positive for marijuana metaboloids following his competition at the beginning of the games.

Delpopolo is the first of the 10,500 London Games athletes to fail an in-competition drug test. There were four others who have been expelled from competition this year, but they were all caught before the games began.

The International Olympic Committee announced that it disqualified him from the 73-kilogram class, where he placed seventh. He beat opponents from Hong Kong and Belgium, then lost to fighters from South Korea and Mongolia.

Delpopolo released a statement earlier today via the United States Olympic Committee (OSOC) expressing regret for his mistake.

"My positive test was caused by my inadvertent consumption of food that I did not realize had been baked with marijuana, before I left for the Olympic Games. I apologize to U.S. Olympic Committee, to my teammates, and to my fans, and I am embarrassed by this mistake. I look forward to representing my country in the future, and will rededicate myself to being the best judo athlete that I can be."

The IOC added that he tested positive for metabolites of cannabis after competing on July 30, the day of his event. He is to be stripped of his accreditation immediately, and the IOC will ask the International Judo Federation to change the standings in Delpopolo's event.

Perhaps a transition to mixed martial arts isn't out of the question for the 23 year old?

The American judo Olympic team has been a recent supplier of some top tier mixed martial arts fighters.

Current women's Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey was a 2008 bronze medal winner and has made a tremendous splash in the world of mixed martial arts, winning the title after barely a year of professional competition and having defeated every single opponent via first round armbar including the former champion Miesha Tate in a thrilling battle earlier this year in Columbus, Ohio.

Also making his mark in MMA has been former American judo Olympian, Rick Hawn, who competed for the United States in 2004 at the Athens games. He's since made it to the finals of the Bellator season four welterweight tournament and most recently has dropped down to 155 pounds to win the Bellator season six lightweight tournament and earn a title shot against current champion Michael Chandler.

Do you think Delpopolo could be convinced to hop aboard the MMA train?