El Confidencial
In July of last year, after defeating Daniel Cormier for the second time, Jon Jones tested positive in an anti-doping control. This Tuesday, the former UFC light heavyweight champion was provisionally punished for this act with a fine of $205,000 and the loss of his license as a mixed martial arts fighter, which would prevent him from ever stepping into the octagon again in the UFC in the next two years. This is the end of one of the most brilliant careers in the history of MMA in which he had 23 wins and one loss.
Jon Jones is not a normal fighter. The 30-year-old American holds the record of being the youngest UFC light heavyweight champion in history (23 years and eight months) having managed to defend his title up to 8 times, beating the record of defenses in that category. He was the first fighter with an international sponsorship from Nike or the one who also brought Gatorade into the octagon for the first time. Few are on his level in terms of talent? and controversy. In addition to having been a repeat positive offender, in 2012 he was arrested for having an accident with his car under the influence of alcohol.
Now he is back in the news after the decision of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) on the positive for Turinabol after that victory on July 29, 2017. Beyond the decision and the sanction, it is striking how this whole process has developed, perhaps the most surprising thing has been the absolute silence of all parties involved, highlighting that the CSAC has taken so long to convene the hearing, granting valuable time to UFCThe USADA's former USADA member, Jeff Nowitzki, and at the same time the former champion's legal advisors. In addition, it should be noted that Jones voluntarily and unexpectedly underwent a polygraph test by a private company that he himself requested and paid for out of his own pocket, probably on the recommendation of his advisors.
2 to 4 years of non-fighting suspension
After these attempts to clean his image before a future punishment, the moment of truth arrived on February 27. At first it seemed that after the important background of the fighter and being a doping recidivist, with the law in hand it was assumed that he could get up to 4 years of disqualification, being a penalty that could have ruined his career, but it has not been so, at least for the moment.
During the hearing and in order of appearance, the executive director of the CSAC, Andy Foster, proposed the withdrawal of his competition license and, in addition, a financial penalty of 40% of the purse he obtained at UFC 214. Later, Paul Scott - the same doping expert of Anderson Silva (42-year-old Brazilian fighter who tested positive in a surprise test in November) - added that it was not possible to prove that the presence of Turinabol could have been voluntary. During the hearing there were even some who recalled the athlete's criminal record, which shook the foundations of his defense, but Jones at all times appeared to be calm, relying on his smile and cordial tone.
When the accused had the floor he insisted on his innocence, since according to him he did not know how that substance could have entered his organism. Jones acknowledged that he did not take the USADA courses to prevent unwanted positives and that his agents were the ones who signed for him the documents proving that he had taken them.
Despite the pressure of the act, being the only UFC fighter to lose his belt through no fault of his own and his problems with the justice system, the half-hearted resolution left everyone baffled as a final verdict was expected to be known. Andy Foster recommended to the commission that until the U.S. Doping Agency concludes the case the fighter cannot apply for a license again. If the CSAC meets before August and does not extend the sanction already imposed, Jon Jones, could ask for it for that same month... If later he could not do it until March 2019 as long as the USADA - the one with the final decision - does not decide to use the maximum penalty of 4 years.
