UFC lightweight Pat Healy tested positive for marijuana following his UFC 159 win over Jim Miller, the fighter admitted Tuesday.
“I would like to start off by apologizing to the UFC, Jim Miller, the MMA community, it’s fans, my family, teammates and coaches for my positive testing for marijuana after my UFC 159 fight with Jim Miller,” Healy expressed in a statement.
“I was fully aware of the UFC and State Commission’s drug policies and made poor life choices. I stand behind the UFC and the State Commission’s disciplinary actions. I support efforts to make MMA and sports a clean, safe and fair place to compete.”
The UFC and New Jersey State Athletic Control Board have yet to comment on Healy’s statement, however Healy’s representatives have confirmed the Salem, Ore., native has been suspended 90 days and the win over Miller will be changed to a no contest.
“First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and take responsibility for my mistake,” Healy continued in the statement.
“I made a very poor choice to socially use marijuana and now I must face the consequences of that choice. I can assure you that I will do everything the UFC and State Commission asks of me and beyond. I will also make a conscious effort to be a better role model within the MMA community.”
Healy won both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses at UFC 159 that totalled US$130,000 in addition to his salary and win bonus which was $22,500.
The Strikeforce veteran instantly put himself in title contention after becoming just the second fighter to finish Miller, choking him unconscious with a rear-naked choke.
Healy is the latest in a series of UFC fighters to test positive for marijuana and it’s unknown how this will affect the 29-year-old’s place in the 155-pound division.
In February 2012, welterweight Nick Diaz was suspended for one year after testing positive for marijuana metabolites after a UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit, yet he earned a title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 in his first bout back from suspension.
Featherweight Robbie Peralta was recently suspended six months after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following a loss to Akira Corassani UFC on FUEL TV 9 in April.
In February, The Ultimate Fighter 7 veteran Matthew Riddle tested positive for marijuana – his second failed test in a seven-month span – and was released by the promotion.
