Jon Jones Is The First UFC Fighter Who Enrolls In Both VADA And USADA Testing At The Same Time!
Jon Jones’ suspicious drug test made a lot of controversies. After NSAC denied granting his license, the whole UFC 232 fight card was moved from Nevada to California!
CSAC (California State Athletic Commission) asked for extra tests to allow Jones to fight. So the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion enrolled in VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) testing program on Monday. ESPN was the first to publish the news.
According to Andy Foster, CSAC executive officer, it is expected “Bones” will remain in VADA testing program for 3-6 months.
USADA, UFC’s anti-doping partner, stated that an “extremely low” amount of Turinabol, an anabolic steroid, was found in Jones’ out-of-competition sample. Jon Jones was already punished for the same substance following his UFC 214 fight versus Daniel Cormier when the result was overturned to no contest. The former champ was stripped of the title too. He also faced a reduced 15-month ban from competition, following “substantial assistance” rule. Luckily for him, an arbitrator Richard McLaren believed “Bones” didn’t intentionally break the rules.
CSAC executive officer Andy Foster also stated that the level of Turinabol in Jon Jones’ sample didn’t have performance-enhancing qualities.
It looks like Foster really believes Jon Jones is clean. You can read the full statement below. (h/t ESPN.com)
“Jon Jones is certainly clean right now. That’s not questionable,” Foster told ESPN. “The Nevada commission did not have enough time to get this thing done, but this is not about California taking a fight Nevada would not. And out of respect for Nevada, I’ve kept all the officials working the (title) fight the same as it would have been in Las Vegas.
“This is also not a slight on the USADA program. I have an interest in clearing this narrative out there that Jon Jones is on steroids. We flew him on a plane two days ago to make sure he doesn’t have steroids in his system. There are a lot of people out there saying he is, and that is misinformation.
“If Dr. Goodman tests Jon Jones and reports back he’s completed this program, I don’t know how that narrative can continue.”
Jon Jones will take part in both USADA and VADA testing for his rematch against Alexander Gustafsson, which is set for Saturday night. He is officially the first UFC fighter who undergoes USADA and VADA testing at the same time!
CSAC commissioner Martha Shen-Urquidez offered Jon Jones to enroll in VADA testing and clear his name earlier this month. As well as you know, VADA has no financial relations with UFC. Its job is to transfer the results to the athletic commissions, not to adjudicate.
This case gets more and more controversial. What are your thoughts on this? Is this suspicious drug test a fake alert, or Jones hides a dark secret?
