Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has had quite the tumultuous relationship with interim Light Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, which appeared to finally hit a tipping point when “Bones” was removed from UFC 200 during fight week when United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) flagged a drug test for a potential violation.
In fact, White was so furious with the mercurial mixed martial arts (MMA) star that he refused to talk to him after his latest transgression even though Jones pleaded his innocence in a tear-soaked press conference. It didn’t get any better when his B-sample confirmed the original finding, but that is often the rule rather than the exception in cases like these.
Over the weekend, however, Jones expressed optimism that he could return to the Octagon sooner rather than later despite facing a two-year suspension from the sport (watch his video message here). He hinted that perhaps he had possibly discovered the substance that triggered the positive result, which was first revealed as an anti-estrogen substance that is often used when coming off a cycle of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
That might not be the case, according to White, who today carefully confirmed that there could be a possible explanation for the positive test that is not PED-related.
“It looks like Jon Jones did not take the supplement everyone thought he took,” Jones just revealed to Jim Rome on CBS Sports radio. “It’s in other things,” he explained.
More @danawhite: “If that’s true & that’s what USADA & the Nevada State Athletic Commission say happened, it could look good for Jon Jones”
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) August 16, 2016
Because it is a “medical issue,” White did not offer much more context, preferring instead to let the legal process take its course, during which time Jones and his team will have the opportunity to share their findings. Jones is not yet on the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) agenda, but that could change very soon now that his situation has seemingly improved.
Regardless of what happens next, Jones and the rest of UFC’s roster are responsible for what they put on their bodies — there is no getting around that. But, perhaps, he will be allowed to return to action sooner than later if he presents a compelling case when the time arrives.
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