By Rafael Bandayrel
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones failed to convince the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), Feb. 27 (Feb. 28, Manila time), that he unknowingly took banned substances ahead of his UFC 214 match-up against Daniel Cormier.
The CSAC voted 6-0 in favor of revoking Jones’ fighting license and imposing a $205,000 fine on the 30-year-old, after he tested positive for the steroid Turinabol.
“I don’t believe we should end Mr. Jones’ career, but I do believe he should sit out for a while,” CSAC Executive Director Andy Foster stated during the deliberation of Jones’ anti-doping case.
The following day, Jones issued his statement through his social media account. “I want to thank csac for taking the time and hearing my case, and executive officer Andy Foster for saying he believes me,” Jones posted on Twitter.
Jon Jones' Response (from Twitter.com)
Foster gave the UFC’s youngest champion the benefit of the doubt. “He passed all the tests that were surprise tests, the out-of-competition tests, but then he fails the one he knows is coming? That doesn’t make any sense whatsoever,” stated Foster.
Jones knocked out Cormier during their July 2017 pay-per-view bout to regain his light heavyweight strap. After failing the out-of-competition drug test, however, the title was stripped off from him and awarded to his rival Cormier subsequently.