As lawyers and sporting commissions in the United States are fighting over whether MMA fighter Nick Diaz had violated drug rules in testing positive for marijuana, Australian sport commissions deemed today that marijuana should be removed from the list of performance-enhancing substances.

The word came today from the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, representing Australian Rugby Union, Australian Rugby League, Cricket Australia, Australian Football League, Football Federation of Australia,  Tennis Australia and Netball Australia.

The coalition believes that marijuana shouldn't be in the same group as Human Growth Hormone and anabolic steroids (which result in a two year ban) - but rather considered an illicit substance.

Malcolm Speed, the coalition chief, will be meeting the World Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday for a meeting and according to  the Seattle Times, will ask that "where a substance is on the banned list but isn't a performance-enhancing substance, it should be removed."