Nevada Identifies Jon Jones Flagged Substances, Extends His Suspension

The Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday confirmed two substances that interim UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for prior to UFC 200 and extended his temporary suspension.

Jones was pulled from the UFC 200 main event opposite Daniel Cormier three days prior to fight time. At that time, he and the UFC were notified by the United States Anti-Doping Agency that Jones was flagged for a potential anti-doping violation.

Jones and his camp held a hastily pulled together press conference on Thursday morning, denying any intentional wrongdoing, but declined to discuss any specifics of the potential violation. They also requested to have Jones’ B Sample tested, the results of which, according to USADA, upheld the initial findings.

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In the time since Jones was pulled from the fight, UFC veterans Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen both publicly stated that Jones had tested positive for two estrogen blocking agents. The NAC on Monday confirmed their reports.

Nevada Deputy Attorney General Caroline Bateman, in asking for an extension of Jones’ temporary suspension until such time as he could be brought in for a full disciplinary hearing, named Hydroxy Clomiphene (an anti-estrogenic agent) and Letrozole metabolite (an aromatase inhibitor) as the two substances Jones tested positive for in his June 16 out-of-competition drug screen.

Jones’ attorney, Howard Jacobs, did not object to any of the details laid out by Bateman, and did not object to extending Jones’ suspension.

As such, the commission voted unanimously to continue Jones’ suspension until he has a full disciplinary hearing. The hearing is expected to take place at either the September or October commission meeting.

Jones, realizing he might be facing a two-year suspension, was resolute about his future.

“If I do have to sit for two years, I’ll definitely be back,” he said, struggling, but failing, to hold back tears at his initial press conference following the news. “At the end of the day, I’m a fighter. I’m a fighter. Even if I may seem broken right here, I’m not broken. I’m just really upset. I’ll find the good in this.”

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