Jones back-to-back contradictory tests not contradictory
USADA statement: “Urine and blood screens are complimentary to each other and don’t analyze for the same substances.”
On Friday morning it was reported that Jon Jones passed a post-fight PED test, which would seem to contradict the post-weigh in, pre-fight PED that he failed for Turinabol. Many members of the MMA media reported the seeming contradiction as fact, as it would bring eyeballs. Jones supporters pointed to it as a sign of his innocence. And most fans were simply even more baffled.
However, whatever questions remain about the failed test, the passing post-fight test does not add to it. The pre-fight urine test checked for Turinabol and the post-fight blood test did not.
A USADA spokesperson explained in a statement to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.
Given that Mr. Jones’ agent has publicly commented on this case, we can confirm Mr. Jones provided a urine and blood sample on July 6th and an additional urine sample on the 7th — all of which were reported negative. On July 28th, his urine sample tested positive for turinabol — as confirmed previously — then after the fight he provided a blood sample that was reported negative.
The prohibited anabolic steroid turinabol is only tested for in urine screens and not in blood tests. Urine and blood screens are complimentary to each other and don’t analyze for the same substances. Importantly, Mr. Jones is innocent unless and until the established process determines otherwise. It’s only fair to let due process occur before jumping to any conclusions.
The final sentence is the most important. Until the process is complete, we simply don’t know what happened, and should withhold judgment until then.
