Jon Jones is elligble to return to action as soon as October 28th after a USADA ruling was finally announced for his positive Turinabol steroid test from back at UFC 214 last year.
The former light-heavyweight champion has been handed a 15th month suspension, retroactive from when the test first flagged as positive, which means Jones will be back sooner than some had expected, and among the first to react to the news have been UFC president Dana White and light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
“The arbitrator found that Jones never intentionally or knowingly took turinabol and the result of the positive test was the result of a contaminated substance,” White wrote in a statement. “The science completely supports that finding. The science doesn’t lie so I look forward to getting him back early next year.”
White was also asked seperately by ESPN whether Jones’ suspension ending at the end of October means that he will now headline UFC 230 on November 3rd in New York City, but the UFC president responded that this was “not true.”
Meanwhile, current 205lb champ Daniel Cormier, who lost the title to Jones at UFC 214 via KO only to then be reinstated as champion due to the positive test, has given his thoughts on the matter.
“I’m the UFC double champion,” Cormier said on UFC Tonight. “I have bosses in the back and I’m talking about this guy because I have to. I’ve moved past that guy. I went about my business. I went and won another title. Now this suspension is up, so we’ll see what happens.”
However, DC then turned his attention to USADA and made it clear he’s not happy with them.
“Here’s the deal: When it comes to USADA, they can’t come to my house anymore at 6 a.m. What’s the point? They’ve been to my house 15 times. USADA, don’t come to my house anymore. You don’t need too. You don’t need to come. I’m not going to fail a test, I’m not going to make any mistakes, I’m not going to have to sit up there and go, ‘I’m serious this time, guys. I promise I wasn’t really trying to cheat.’ It’s never going to happen with me. 70 times. 70 times since I started wrestling internationally and I’ve never made a mistake. It’s not that hard. So even to be sitting here and doing this again shows — you guys are ridiculous.”
Cormier also ruled out the possibility of a trilogy fight with Jones next, instead keeping his eyes firmly focused on a heavyweight title defense against the returning Brock Lesnar.
“I think people get excited, people get excited about the prospect of us fighting again, but I’ve got a fight with Brock Lesnar. Why would I look back? Why would I look back to Jones now when I’ve got a fight? Obviously as a competitor I want to fight the guy whose beat me twice, but I’ve got a fight. Why go back? I’ve got a bigger fight with Brock Lesnar, why should I go back?”
