Top UFC welterweight contender Diego Sanchez tested postive for marijuana following his knockout victory over Joe Riggs at UFC Fight Night Miramar in December, according the Orange County Register.

Here’s a snip:

“… Diego Sanchez tested positive for marijuana after his first-round KO over Joe Riggs on Dec.13 at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Armando Garcia, the executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, said Sanchez paid a $500 fine and served a three-month suspension, so he has been cleared to fight Josh Koscheck at UFC 69 on April 7 in Houston.”

This is the first I’m hearing of the result and I’m pretty sure we — or anyone else for that matter — would have picked up on the news if it were made public sooner.

Of course, Sanchez is a rising star in the division — having him get busted for pot and be suspended for three months is not the ideal image the UFC wants to project.

(The punishment also sounds like a slap on the wrist — three months is normal for a fighter between fights … and $500? Not complaining, just making a point ;) ).

But, sweeping this under the carpet doesn’t seem to smart, either. Not when he’s about to be the marquee attraction at a major UFC event in a few weeks.

Talk about a distraction … or dare I say it … a nightmare?