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UFC champ Jon Jones' career hangs in the balance after another doping controversy

The fighter has been informed of a possible anti-doping violation following his recent win over Daniel Cormier.

UFC LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Jon Jones is at the centre of controversy once again following his win over Daniel Cormier last month.

Jones has failed a United States Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] test stemming from a sample taken after his 28 July weigh-in, the UFC said in a statement.

“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,” the statement continued.

“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.”

It’s the latest controversial incident involving Jones, who won the bout against Cormier via third-round TKO to regain the UFC light heavyweight title he was stripped of as a result of his involvement in a hit-and-run incident in April 2015.

In July of last year, in what would have been his second fight with Cormier at UFC 200, Jones was withdrawn on the eve of the fight after testing positive for the banned substances clomiphene and letrozol. He was then banned for one year.

According to TMZ, who broke the news last night, this time Jones tested positive for turinabol, an anabolic steroid. The 30-year-old could now be facing a four-year suspension. UFC president Dana White told ESPN that a decision regarding stripping Jones of the belt has yet to be made. The result of the fight could also be overturned.

In a statement released to MMAFighting.com, Jones’ manager Malki Kawa said: “We are all at a complete loss for words right now. Jon, his trainers, his nutritionists and his entire camp have worked tirelessly and meticulously the past 12 months to avoid this exact situation.

“We are having the samples tested again to determine the validity or source of contamination. Jon is crushed by this news and we are doing whatever we can as a team, to support him.”

Dana White said: “I always know what to say. I don’t know what to say about this one. These things never come at a good time. They’re always bad, especially with somebody like Jon Jones. In my opinion, he’s the best to ever do it. That makes it even more unfortunate.”

White added: “If he ends up getting [banned for] two or three [years], it might be the end of his career. How old is Jon now? 30? And he’d be 33, 34 trying to make a comeback again? You look at what could have been and what he could’ve done — it’s sad.”

 

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