Jones’ attorney says USADA testing found tainted substance

UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones failed a PED test shortly before UFC 200, and was pulled from the unification fight with division champion Daniel Cormier, who fought Anderson Silva instead.

However, Jones only tested positive for Hydroxy-clomiphene and Letrozole, two estrogen blockers that are sometimes used following a cycle of steroids. USADA categorizes these as specified substances, due to the greater likelihood of a credible non-doping explanation for a test failure. The penalty for knowingly taking a PED for the first time is a two-year suspension. The penalty for testing positive for a specified substance ranges from a public warning to a maximum one-year suspension.

There have been multiple indications that Jones’ test was due to generic Cialis. Now Senior Editor at MMA Fighting and SB Nation Luke Thomas is reporting via Twitter that Jones’ lawyer, Howard Jacobs, says that USADA tests have confirmed that substances Jones took were contaminated. Jacobs appeared on the Luke Thomas Show to make the announcement.

“Jon Jones’s attorney said USADA’s independent tests of substances JJ took show they were just as contaminated as well,” wrote Thomas on Twitter. “Listen: #TLTS.”

When middleweight Yoel Romero failed a PED test for Ibutamoren, which stimulates growth hormone release, a USADA investigation determined that the test failure came from a contaminated nutritional supplement. Romero was ultimately given a six-month suspension.

Jones tested positive for something without a direct performance enhancing effect, and it was reportedly in generic Cialis, rather than a nutritional supplement, so USADA could be kinder and gentler still. Even a 6-month suspension would find Jones eligible to fight again by early January.