Jon Jones Suspended One Year For Failed Drug Test, Releases Statement

Interim UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones has been suspended one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

Jon Jones Suspended One Year For Failed Drug Test, Releases Statement

The USADA announced ban on Monday.

Jones, 29, became the first UFC athlete to enter arbitration with USADA last month, regarding sanctions for a failed out-of-competition drug test on June 16.

The suspension is retroactive to July 6, the date Jones was pulled from a UFC 200 pay-per-view title fight against Daniel Cormier, which was scheduled for July 9 in Las Vegas.

Jones (22-1) was provisionally suspended in July after testing positive for the banned substances clomiphene and letrozole.

The fighter released the following statement via his PR person Denise White:

“Although I was hopeful for a better outcome in the USADA ruling today,  I am very respectful of the process in which they allowed me to defend myself. I have always maintained my innocence and I am very happy I have been cleared in any wrong doing pursuant to the allegations made that I had intentionally  taken a banned substance. I am pleased that in USADA’s investigation they determined I was ‘not a cheater of the sport.’

“Being cleared of these allegations was very important to me. I have worked hard in and outside of the octagon to regain my image and my fighting career and will take these next eight months to continue my training and personal growth both as a man and a athlete. Thank you to all of my fans, teammates, coaches, sponsors  and to the UFC for their continued support.”

Jone’s attorney Howard Jacobs asserted the banned substances entered his system in the form of a sexual enhancement pill he believed was Cialis, a brand form of tadalafil.

Jones claimed he received the pill from teammate Eric Blasich “on or about June 14.” Jones also stated he checked with his agent, Malki Kawa, to confirm Cialis is not listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned substance list prior to ingesting the pill.

According to Jones’ arguments, he later found out the pill was not Cialis, but another form of tadalafil that Blasich had purchased from AllAmericanPeptide.com.

The three-member arbitration panel, which consisted of arbitrators hailing from England, Finland and Denmark, nevertheless found Jones at fault for the positive test.

Jones is still facing possible disciplinary action from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. A formal date for that hearing is not yet available.

LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 03:  Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones waits in a timeout as he defends his title against Daniel Cormier during the UFC 182 event  at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 3, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jones retained his title by unanimous decision.  (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)