Henry Cejudo refuses to fight in Nevada in wake of Nick Diaz suspension

The outpour of support for Nick Diaz from his mixed martial arts (MMA) colleagues -- and fans -- continues to trickle in after the Stockton slugger was hit with a five-year suspension and a $165,000 fine for failing a drug test for his UFC 183 fight against Anderson Silva earlier this year.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently blasted the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for its harsh punishment, and now another former Olympic medalist and current UFC star is chiming in with support.

Henry Cejudo -- according to a letter from his manger -- will not be fighting in the state of Nevada moving forward in light of the punishment levied against Diaz. Of course, the decision isn't based solely on the fact that NSAC brought the hammer down on the troubled fighter, but the fact that it ignored facts in the case, including negative test results.

Simply put, the Cejudo camp does not have the confidence in NSAC to manage a fair and credible testing process.

Check out the letter Henry's manager Bill McFarlane provided to MMA Fighting:

I am absolutely appalled at how the NAC handled the Nick Diaz matter. The issue here is not the magnitude of the penalties assessed to Nick Diaz, it is the process, or lack thereof, in determining Nick Diaz's guilt or innocence. Significant discrepancies existed between the test samples, and the NAC has an absolute obligation to resolve those discrepancies before the penalty phase of the disciplinary hearing was heard. What the NAC did was ignore due process and go straight to the penalty phase.

Forget the facts and existence of evidence, let's get down to the business of punishment. For the NAC to ignore the negative test results from Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratories (SMRTL), a WADA-approved testing facility specializing in the detection of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), in favor of a "questionable" result from a non-approved and non-specialized PED facility is simply astonishing. For Chairman Aguilar to also state, "I think we do have a positive test today," is an appalling disregard of the full and careful consideration of all the facts. I believe it is an abuse of power under the color of authority, and a direct affront to the very concept and practice of due process. For NAC to further justify their decision based on the assertion that they don't have the budget to use a WADA-approved testing facility is like saying, justice and due process only applies if it comes at a deep discount and is affordable. The NAC decision does not appear to be based on fact or evidence, but on emotional arrogance.

I sincerely hope that the UFC enters the dialogue on this issue. If not publicly, then privately. It is very unfortunate, but I feel it's prudent to let the UFC know that Henry Cejudo will not be fighting in Nevada. I simply have no confidence that the NAC can manage a fair and credible testing process, or will act in a fair and unbiased manner. Henry has been tested well over a hundred times under the USOC/USADA program and never had a positive test result. That is because he has never used a banned substance, but also because, in each and every case, the testing was done by competent and unbiased personnel under a credible program utilizing WADA accredited labs.

I personally applauded the UFC for imposition of their anti-doping policy, as it comes with the legacy and credibility of USADA, as well as appropriate protocols and processes to ensure fair and credible testing. The opposite appears true with respect to the NAC. Until the NAC testing process can be independently reviewed, its findings made public, and corrective action taken, I personally do not believe it is a safe or credible place to conduct business. That includes a review of the recent actions and competencies of Commission members.

Others may want to roll the dice in Nevada, but I for one do not feel the NAC is capable of conducting itself in a manner consistent with their mission statement, appropriate enforcement of existing regulations, conducting business in a fair and unbiased manner, or the exercise of due process in their enforcement actions.

As noted in the letter, UFC has taken the proper steps to implement stricter drug testing. But regarding the Cejudo camp's wishes for UFC to get involved in the matter, well, that's simply not going to happen.

For the record, Cejudo has yet to compete in the state of Nevada, as far as MMA is concerned, but has done so in the past for wrestling. His next bout is set to go down against Jussier Formiga at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) "Latin America 2" Finale on Nov. 21, 2015 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Question is, will Dana White and Co. support Cejudo's stance?