Jon Jones Believes He Will be ‘Vindicated’ Through Year Long Drug Testing Process
Jon Jones has always been steadfast in his innocence regarding performance enhancing drug use and now he’s going to invite a whole lot of testing in 2019 to prove it.
Last week, the reigning light heavyweight champion received his license to fight at UFC 235 after going through more than three hours of testimony in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The entire hearing surrounded Jones still showing trace amounts of a metabolite attached to the anabolic steroid Turinabol that has been appearing his body ever since 2017. Jones was previously suspended for 15 months after the initial positive test but USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has stated that the subsequent positive tests are likely the result of a ‘pulsing’ effect — basically saying trace amounts of this long-term metabolites could be in his body for years to come.
USADA scientists along with Daniel Eichner, head of the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, gave testimony saying they don’t believe Jones cheated again and he’s receiving no performance enhancing benefits from the trace amounts of this metabolite still showing up in his body.
To receive his license, Jones also agreed to even more drug testing being done in addition to the drug testing he’s already receiving from USADA throughout 2019.
Jones believes his willingness to sign onto the drug testing as well as the results that will be returned will ultimately vindicate him from any wrongdoing.
“The biggest thing is — and I want to drive this home every time — these picograms give me no performance enhancing benefits. I have USADA, VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) and Nevada all three drug testing me for the remainder of this year. That’s a lot of needles. But I have no problem being in this position. I think through all the testing, I’ll be vindicated and we’ll all be educated,” Jones said at the UFC 235 pre-fight press conference last Thursday.
“I think me opening up to being tested by three different agencies, it shows that I have nothing to hide. USADA and VADA have been around for so long and they work with so many extremely successful athletes. Guys who are a lot more influential than I am, they’ve worked with the who’s who and they’re very credible. I think them giving me my license shows that I am innocent and this doesn’t help my performance at all. I’m just grateful. I’m grateful for everything to be out in the open and accessible for everyone to see.”
Jones will be drug tested extensively in the lead up to his fight against Anthony Smith on March 2 with additional drug testing throughout the rest of the year as well.
Jones has had several drug tests returned with that same ‘pulsing’ effect with miniscule amounts of that long term metabolite still showing up in his system but USADA, the Nevada commission and the California commission have all said he will not be punished with experts all saying he’s not at fault for this continued issue.
