Jon Jones was notified of a potential USADA violation stemming from an in-competition drug test occurring after the UFC 214 weigh-ins on July 28th. He now faces a four-year suspension from the UFC due to his second violation of the company’s anti-doping policy.
UPDATED: Via ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
CONFIRMED with Dana White: Jon Jones failed drug test at UFC 214. Per White, he hasn’t been formally stripped of title yet. Wow.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 23, 2017
The UFC has produced its statement regarding the news:
The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jon Jones of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an in-competition sample collected following his weigh-in on July 28, 2017.
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Jones, as it relates to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and future UFC participation. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) also retains jurisdiction over this matter as the sample collection was performed the day before Jones’ bout at UFC 214 in Anaheim, CA, and USADA will work to ensure that the CSAC has the necessary information to determine its proper judgment of Jones’ potential anti-doping violation.
Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
Through Jones’ agent, Malki Kawa, the former UFC light heavyweight champion released a statement:
We are all at a complete loss for words right now. Jon, his trainers, his nutritionists and his entire camp have worked tirelessly and meticulously the past 12 months to avoid this exact situation. We are having the samples tested again to determine the validity or source of contamination. Jon is crushed by this news and we are doing whatever we can as a team, to support him.
It is believed that Jones tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Jones tested positive for clomiphene and letrozol prior to UFC 200 in July 2016.
Payout Perspective:
Years from now we will wonder how good Jones could have been. But with this new finding, its clear that he will be out for some time. Even if the ruling is overturned, and the four years are reduced, months, maybe a year will go by without clarification. It seems, once again, that Jones may have taken a non-FDA supplement which likely did not include all of its contents on its label. Recall, Jones’ previous failure was due to a “dick pill” that was sold online. Unfortunately, for as many chances Jones receives, he hands back disappointment to you each time.
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