The Nevada State Athletic Commission cleared UFC star Jon Jones for a fight against Anthony Smith at UFC 235. It is a great relief for fight fans as the commissions and testing agencies clear ‘Bones’ to compete.
According to the NSAC, Jon Jones has been tested six times in February. Twice, Jones has tested positive for 20 and 40 picogram/milliliter levels of metabolites from banned substance Turinabol. Since his positive test in 2017, Jones has repeatedly tested positive for trace amounts of the substance. However, the findings will not affect his licensing. The NSAC stated;
“…consistent with the NSAC’s January 29, 2019 order to issue Mr. Jones a single fight license…the findings will not preclude him from competing on March 2, 2019.”
One of the test results for February 23rd is still pending and will be released before UFC 235. Though Jones has to go through more tests moving forward, the show will go on as planned unless something unexpected happens.
The California State Athletic Commission, in conjunction with the NSAC, has required Jon Jones to enlist in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association if he is to compete at UFC 235. So far the results of two tests, each from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) and the NSAC, have been made available. Since his fight with Alexander Gustafsson, Jones has been tested almost ten times.
Though Jones has tested positive four different times, none of those findings will affect his licensing. The Commission defers to the statement from Dr. Daniel Eichner of the Sports Medicine and Research Laboratory,
“There is no scientific or medical evidence that the athlete (Jones) would have an unfair advantage leading up to, or for, his contest scheduled on March 2, 2019.”
UFC 235 will take place on March 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a light heavyweight title fight between Jones and Smith. Co-headlining the event will be a welterweight title fight between champ Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman.
