Everybody loves a comeback story, especially when it’s a guy like Jon Jones. The guy had been through a lot with drug abuse, hit-and-runs, and failed drug tests. Jones said all the right things leading up to his comeback title win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 last month and it appeared the history books would record him as the best of all time. You can scratch that now as it appears the 30-year-old New York native has been flagged by USADA for the steroid Turinabol according to a report from TMZ Sports. The report also states Jones has been stripped of his title and Cormier will be reinstated as champion — though UFC President Dana White told ESPN that decision has not yet been finalized. Jones could also face up to two years suspension.
The UFC has released the following statement:
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.
So, it is true Jones may have taken a contaminated supplement which has been known to happen in the past. However, this does not look good and if it turns out to be true, it will forever add yet more tarnish to what should have been, what could have been a stellar career for Jon Jones. And when you consider the emotional upheaval UFC fans witnessed from Daniel Cormier following his knockout loss to Jones at UFC 214, it makes the whole thing even uglier. Dammit Bones.