UFC health & performance VP Jeff Novitzky clears up comments on Jon Jones’ failed test

Jeff Novitzky says his recent comments about Jon Jones’ failed drug test were misinterpreted.

Last week, UFC executive Jeff Novtizky gave an interview with veteran announcer Bruce Buffer to give an update on Jon Jones’ failed drug test.

Some MMA media outlets misinterpreted his words and believed that Novitzky implied ‘Bones’ was likely innocent.

The UFC vice president of athlete health and performance cleared up the confusion in a statement to MMA Fighting, stating that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the UFC are still investigating the source of the drugs in Jones’ system.

“The headline and corresponding article took excerpts from an interview I did last week, where I was asked about the status of Jon Jones’ pending case,” Novitzky said, per Marc Raimondi. “I indicated that Jon’s camp, the UFC and USADA were all working hard and together to determine the source of the prohibited substance in Jon’s system. That is still the case.

“I stated that this is often a lengthy process that can take up to several months to complete, but that possible sanctions based on the findings of a completed case ranged from a multi-year suspension, to a minimal, or no-fault sanction, if an unavoidable ingestion of the prohibited substance was determined.”

Jones, of course, tested positive for the steroid Turinabol in an in-competition drug test prior UFC 214. The light heavyweight talent knocked out Daniel Cormier in the main event to regain his title but was immediately stripped of the belt and his win was overturned to a No Contest by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after news got out of his failed B sample. Cormier, 38, has been reinstated as the official champion and Jones has been removed from the UFC rankings.

The Jackson-Wink product also tested positive for Clomiphene and Letrozol last year and was suspended for twelve months. Given that Jones is a repeat offender, the former champ could be suspended for up to four years if it is proved that he took Turinabol intentionally.

Notizsky, of course, is hoping that isn’t the case but stated that there is no indication that Jones is innocent.

“While all parties are hoping to find evidence of the unintentional or unavoidable use of the prohibited substance, at no time during the interview did I indicate that there were developments leading in that direction, as was the inference of the headline,” Novitzky said.

Jones is one of the most controversial stars in the sport and was formerly considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Jeff Novitzky says his recent comments about Jon Jones’ failed drug test were misinterpreted.

Last week, UFC executive Jeff Novtizky gave an interview with veteran announcer Bruce Buffer to give an update on Jon Jones’ failed drug test.

Some MMA media outlets misinterpreted his words and believed that Novitzky implied ‘Bones’ was likely innocent.

The UFC vice president of athlete health and performance cleared up the confusion in a statement to MMA Fighting, stating that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the UFC are still investigating the source of the drugs in Jones’ system.

“The headline and corresponding article took excerpts from an interview I did last week, where I was asked about the status of Jon Jones’ pending case,” Novitzky said, per Marc Raimondi. “I indicated that Jon’s camp, the UFC and USADA were all working hard and together to determine the source of the prohibited substance in Jon’s system. That is still the case.

“I stated that this is often a lengthy process that can take up to several months to complete, but that possible sanctions based on the findings of a completed case ranged from a multi-year suspension, to a minimal, or no-fault sanction, if an unavoidable ingestion of the prohibited substance was determined.”

Jones, of course, tested positive for the steroid Turinabol in an in-competition drug test prior UFC 214. The light heavyweight talent knocked out Daniel Cormier in the main event to regain his title but was immediately stripped of the belt and his win was overturned to a No Contest by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after news got out of his failed B sample. Cormier, 38, has been reinstated as the official champion and Jones has been removed from the UFC rankings.

The Jackson-Wink product also tested positive for Clomiphene and Letrozol last year and was suspended for twelve months. Given that Jones is a repeat offender, the former champ could be suspended for up to four years if it is proved that he took Turinabol intentionally.

Notizsky, of course, is hoping that isn’t the case but stated that there is no indication that Jones is innocent.

“While all parties are hoping to find evidence of the unintentional or unavoidable use of the prohibited substance, at no time during the interview did I indicate that there were developments leading in that direction, as was the inference of the headline,” Novitzky said.

Jones is one of the most controversial stars in the sport and was formerly considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.