NAC not UFC or USADA will levy fines on Jones, Lesnar

In June of 2015, the UFC announced they had selected USADA as their independent drug testing arm. It was explained that any fines levied and collected would go towards the cost of the UFC’s anti-doping program and/or anti-doping research.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was administered several tests before his fight with Mark Hunt at UFC 200, and failed two of them. Unfortunately, by the time the tests came back, the fight had happened, and Lesnar won, earning the highest declared purse in UFC history – $2,500,000, plus a cut of the pay-per-view revenue.

An outraged Mark Hunt announced that he wanted 50% of Lesnar’s purse, and that failing, he wanted to be released from his contract. Then he said he wanted 100%.

UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones also failed a test before UFC 200, but the results came back before the fight with Cormier.

Both Lesnar and Jones face sanctions from USADA. The will be provided a process to contest the findings, and then, if it is determined that they took the prohibited drugs and not inadvertently in a tainted supplement, they face a two-year suspension, and other punishments. These punishments are internal to the UFC and USADA, but will be considered by Athletic Commissions.

However, the UFC will not be levying fines against fighters who violate the anti-doping code. In the case of Lesnar and Jones, the failed tests were close to UFC 200, which took place in Las Vegas, so the Nevada Athletic Commission will also be administering punishment. And that punishment could include fines.

Revenue realized from NAC fines does not go to the commissions, but rather goes into the state’s General Fund. Thus Hunt’s demand that the UFC give him fines from Brock’s purse is not consistent with what is happening. The UFC is not levying fines, the NAC is. And the NAC is not keeping it, so they cannot give it to Hunt.

This is similar to a errant driver being fined in a car accident. The state court levies a fine, and it goes to the state, not to the unfortunate person who got hit.

Both Jones and Lesnar tested positive for hydroxy-clomiphene, an anti-estrogen agent. Clomiphene is typically used as post-cycle therapy (PCT) for athletes coming of anabolic steroids. Two fighters at the end of a camp testing for Clomiphene does not look good. Further, it is not a substance that is known to have been put into seemingly legitimate supplements. Still, both fighters face a process with the NAC and with USADA, and a truth will come out.

Jones is now having samples from his supplements tested.

Lesnar released a short statement to the Associated Press – “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”