UFC Releases Statement on Jon Jones Dirty Drug Test

The UFC released a statement in the wake of news first reported by TMZ Sports that Jon Jones tested positive for steroids during the period corresponding with his UFC 214 fight with Daniel Cormier.

The statement reads:

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.

Jones faces the loss of his light-heavyweight title, a possible four-year suspension, and his second win over Cormier turning into a no-contest. Jones failed past drug tests in the leadup to two previously scheduled matches with Cormier. Last year, the UFC scrapped his rematch with Cormier after Jones tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The previous year, Jones tested positive for a performance-inhibiting drug, cocaine, prior to his first bout with Cormier. In both instances, the light-heavyweight champion’s dirty tests came from out-of-competition samples, which meant more lenient penalties. This offense, allegedly coming from an in-competition sample and marking the third time popping positive for the mixed-martial arts legend, likely puts Jones on the shelf for some time unless he can prove his innocence.

The drug he tested positive for, Turinabol, aids power and endurance without weighing an athlete down with excess muscle mass.

Jones, who holds wins over a who’s-who of the light-heavyweight ranks, currently ranks as the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter and tops many lists for the greatest mixed-martial artist in the short history of the sport.