Scott Coker has been dealing with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) fo quite some time now, and for the most part, he will tell you he has never had any issues or disagreed with any of its decisions.
Until now.
The Bellator MMA president isn’t a fan of how CSAC and its executive officer, Andy Foster, have handled the Jon Jones situation, especially for allowing him to compete at UFC 232 after Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) denied him after several drug tests came up positive for a steroid metabolite.
“I called Andy Foster, it was a private conversation and I’d like to leave it at that. But just from a company standpoint I think it’s very disappointing,” said Coker during a recent media scrum (via MMA Fighting).
“You go out there and put your reputation on the line for health and safety and all the weight-cutting. We have always supported the commission and we will continue to support the commission,” he added.
Still, several experts are adamant Jones has never re-ingested anything that has produced continuous positive results, as the root of the problem stems from his original failed drug test way back in 2017.
The lingering steroid metabolite showing up from time to time, according to “scientists,” is a result of a “pulsing” effect. For Coker, though, it’s much simpler than that.
“But listen, if a fighter has PED’s in him, he has PED’s in him. That’s how I feel. To be the judge, jury and executioner, now, it’s a little bit challenging for me to accept,” he added.
“But it is what it is. I have always said we are going to abide by commission rules and we will continue. But I don’t think that it was the right call. But that was his call to make. For 32 years I’ve been with the California State Commission this is one of the few times that I said, ‘Hey, this is not right.’ But we will see what happens with that,” concluded Coker.
Interestingly enough, Coker’s fighters will once again be under CSAC’s supervision this Saturday night (Jan. 26, 2019) as Bellator 214 takes place inside The Forum in Los Angeles and will feature the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader.
For more on that event click here.