It sucks, but it’s true. Jon Jones failed a drug test in the buildup to UFC 214, and all signs point to his being stripped of the UFC light heavyweight title in the coming hours.
“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,” the UFC confirmed in a statement posted to UFC.com.
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.
Unsurprisingly, this gut-wrenching news generated a range of reactions from the MMA community. See some of the best fighter reactions (and a few from BJPenn.com’s writers) below:
@dc_mma Looks like you get your belt back, congrats! Are you ready for No Time ⌚️?
— Volkan Oezdemir (@volkan_oezdemir) August 23, 2017
I’ll go with what Ariel is reporting https://t.co/ivEYJk0nzL
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) August 23, 2017
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) August 23, 2017
Lol this stupid mother fucker 😂 #steroids #positive https://t.co/2k8DpSKVUA
— Mike Pierce (@MikePierce170) August 23, 2017
Oh, man… 🙁 https://t.co/gUYHWUnmTF
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) August 23, 2017
Everybody in this sport is on steroids 😂😂💯
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) August 23, 2017
😑😑😑
What a fucking douche https://t.co/1UCLXVSTAa— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) August 23, 2017
Lets wait the final verdict w Mr Bones. I’ll just say this. Steroid cheaters are t scum of the earth, should be banned for life, fuck m all
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) August 23, 2017
Just cracked the top ten sitting on the couch. Thanks Jonny
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) August 23, 2017
Is this for real??? I’m completely in shock, thought this was behind him 😟😟 https://t.co/IPWu3VyIyb
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) August 23, 2017
This is just the setup to Jones vs Lesnar. https://t.co/jEWMP0m6CW
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) August 23, 2017
Wow oh wow, Bones jones done it again. No words 😶
— Linton Vassell (@LDV_TheSwarm) August 23, 2017
Never failed a drug test. pic.twitter.com/8V8NNj1Ygm
— Tom Taylor (@TomTayMMA) August 23, 2017
Exclusive live reaction when Daniel Cormier found out Jon Jones popped. pic.twitter.com/bjxSPYUn9L
— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) August 23, 2017
Terrible news for me and every other fight fan out there. #JBJ #USADA #UFC214
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) August 23, 2017
Stay tuned for more Jon Jones news at it emerges.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/22/2017.