Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones insists his positive drug test — which booted him from the UFC 200 pay-per-view (PPV) event back in July — does not place him in the same boat as ex-heavyweight kingpin Brock Lesnar.
Yeah, about that…
Not only did “Bones” pop for the same anti-estrogen substance as his purple-faced pal, he’s likely to enjoy the same suspension, which is expected to be reduced when the punishments are handed out later this year. But not because the circumstances have changed.
“The reason for the shorter suspension is because the banned substances the pair tested positive for are considered ‘specified substances’ under the World Anti-Doping Agency Code,” according to Ariel Helwani.
That means a “greater likelihood these (specified) substances could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation” and “possible for a prohibited substance to enter an athlete’s body inadvertently.” As a result, Lesnar and Jones will likely avoid two-year suspensions from United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Just don’t tell Mark Hunt.
That said, both fighters will also have to answer to Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) at some point over the next few weeks, which could result in separate fines and suspensions on both counts.
Stay tuned.