(Dana White breaks the news of Jones’ violation, via MMAJunkie)
Un. F*cking. Believable.
That’s pretty much the only way to sum it up, Nation. Just three days out from his rematch with Daniel Cormier — aka the most anticipated main event on the most anticipated fight card of the year — Jon Jones has been flagged with a potential USADA anti-doping violation and pulled from UFC 200.
Even when we’re preparing ourselves for the worst possible scenarios, it seems that MMA finds a way to somehow screw things up even worse. What a sport this is.
After the jump: Daniel Cormier reacts to Jones’ removal.
The news of Jones’ positive test was first revealed by MMAFighting via Twitter. According to Vice President of Athlete Health, Jeff Novitzky, Jones was flagged following an out-of-competition drug test administered on June 16th. This is important to note because it basically removes any idea that Jones may have tested positive for cocaine (as he had previously) or marijuana (which he’s also been known to dabble in), both of which are perfectly acceptable to use out-of-competition and wouldn’t have landed him with a potential fine or suspension.
While we won’t know for sure what substance is behind Jones’ positive test for some time, it almost seems certain that he did test positive for a steroid or masking agent of some kind in order to be removed from the event. BloodyElbow has also passed along an interesting theory on what may have caused Jones’ positive test.
One last thing to note is that Jon Jones is sponsored by GAT supplements, and at least one GAT product, “Testagen,” has a warning that it may cause “false positive” test results for athletes:
The warning reads: SUBSTANCE TEST WARNING! Bodybuilders and other athletes subjected to substance testing should never use this product unless first approved by the validating organization. Product may cause a drug test result called False Positive (urine or blood).
After calling an emergency press conference shortly thereafter, Dana White told reporters that the heavyweight clash between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt would be moved to the evening’s main event (because it’s not like you can have a non-Rousey women’s title fight headline an event, amiright?) while looking like a man just moments away from suicide.
Dana, live on ESPN. The look of a defeated man. pic.twitter.com/6EJX7P7mC7
— Freddie DeFreitas (@freddefreitas) July 7, 2016
For what it’s worth, Cormier has stated an interest to stay on the card and would even be willing to go up to 220 or 225 to face an opponent on short notice. Everyone from Alexander Gustafsson to Michael Bisping has thrown their names in the hat to replace Jones, and White has stated that he’d “like to find Daniel a fight” for UFC 200, so we’ll be sure to let you know if any of those scenarios come to fruition.
Once again, it seems that the only man who can beat Jon Jones is Jon Jones. More on this story as it develops, Nation.
UPDATE
According to Ariel Helwani, Jones will hold a press conference to address his removal from UFC 200 at 11:30 am EST today. Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa, has already taken to Twitter to deny that steroids were in fact behind Jones’ positive test.
Don't even bro. Not even close "@UnderwoodSports: Whoa whoa whoa…..Bones Jones doping?!"
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 7, 2016
The post Jon Jones Flagged With USADA Violation, Pulled From UFC 200 [UPDATED] appeared first on Cagepotato.