With the recent announcement that the UFC will no longer be partnering with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Jon Jones, one of the most controversial figures in the MMA world, is now seeking to reclaim one of his wins.
According to USADA CEO Travis Tygart, the anti-doping partnership between the UFC and USADA will come to an end on January 1, 2024, after almost a decade of collaboration.
Throughout his career, the UFC heavyweight champion Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) has been embroiled in numerous controversies surrounding failed drug tests, particularly during his reign as the light heavyweight champion. On two occasions, he was stripped of his title due to these violations, specifically during his fights with Daniel Cormier.
In fact, his second victory over Cormier at UFC 214 was later overturned to a no contest when he tested positive for the anabolic steroid turinabol. However, his sentence was significantly reduced to 15 months after providing “substantial assistance” to USADA.
Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming that he unknowingly consumed tainted substances, Jones aims to have the knockout finish over Cormier reinstated as a win.
“Man I survived USADA. First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal. Guess what? I’m still here, still unbeaten. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I’ve never cheated this sport and I will stand by that until the day I die.”
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Man I survived USADA. First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal. Guess what I’m still here, still unbeaten. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I’ve never cheated this sport and I will…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2023
Jones faced another failed drug test when he tested positive for turinabol metabolites prior to his UFC 232 rematch with Alexander Gustafsson. However, USADA determined that the trace amounts found, known as picograms, were incapable of providing Jones with a competitive advantage.
In a now-deleted tweet, Jones wanted to clarify that his lifestyle choices should not be equated with being a steroid cheat.
“Yeah, I became the youngest champion in the sport’s history. Probably the youngest millionaire in the sport’s history. Unfortunately, I didn’t handle it correctly and became a bit of a party boy. That definitely doesn’t qualify me as a steroid cheat. You know nothing about being a star athlete.”
Jones is set to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC 295 on November 11th at Madison Square Garden in New York.
For more details about the event, visit MMA Junkie’s UFC 295 event hub.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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