Jon Jones is looking for some vindication following a USADA ruling change.
Jon Jones is feeling like a free man upon his return to the UFC. Jones has been absent from competition for three years as he took time away to bulk up to heavyweight. Jones ruled the UFC light heavyweight division for a long time before making the decision to move up. Now he is heading straight to a title shot at UFC 285 against Ciryl Gane.
Throughout Jones’ career, he has had some ups and downs. He is known in many circles as the best MMA fighter to have ever lived. Despite all of his success inside the cage, the shadow over his career is his trouble outside of the cage. Throughout his career, Jones has found himself in trouble with the law and has had issues with drugs. He has tested positive for banned substances but now is campaigning for those blemishes to be expunged.
Jon Jones feels his past USADA violations should be overturned with a ruling change
Jones tested positive for a banned substance back in 2017 after his bout with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. The testing found trace amounts of a PED substance called turinabol which led to Jones being suspended and his win over Cormier changed to a no-contest. Now the rules have changed and the limits of such substances have been raised. It is due to this that Jones feels he would not have been reprimanded for his levels. He spoke about this at the UFC 285 media day.
“USADA has changed some of the rules regarding picogram levels and what’s allowed, and I’ve come to find out that all my findings were under the new legal limit, meaning I would have been cleared from every test I’ve ever taken. That means a lot to me,” he said. “People considered me a cheater. Now, if that same rule would have applied back then, it would have never even made the media. It would have never been a deal at all. My win over Daniel Cormier would not be a no-contest. It would be a knockout. A KO victory. I’m hoping that with these rule changes maybe we can go back and make that no-contest a win…It was hell being considered a steroid cheat, and I’m glad that people can see clearly now that I never was, and I feel set free.”
There has been no word on if Jones may even seek this type of record change. It seems that the record will stand as is and the no-contest will remain. As for Jones, he has the opportunity to make history if he can get past the dangerous Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 on Saturday night.
