The full decision (PDF) in Jon Jones arbitration case against USADA makes for illuminating reading, and explains a lot more than just the statement that USADA issued along with it. It describes Jones, lawyer Howard Jacobs, and agent Malki Kawa attempting to make a case that is full of holes. The story goes something like this…
On June 14th or thereabouts, Jones was eating dinner with Eric Blasich, a new teammate at JacksonWink MMA, when Blasich told Jones that that he had been taking what he said was Cialis, the brand name for the erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil. Jones, who had previously taken Viagra (sildenafil) and understood the two drugs to be similar, asked Blasich if he could give him one. Blasich got the pills from his car and Jones took one immediately.
The “Cialis” was actually something that Blasich ordered from a website called “All American Peptides” without a prescription. The site is currently “down for maintenance,” but you can view an archive of their page for tadalafil. The package that they sell has the following disclaimers:
“This Product is for CHEMICAL RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION/USE. WARNING: If product is ingested accidently contact Poison Control.“
“This product is not a drug, food, or cosmetic and should not be misbranded, misused or mislabelled (sic) as a drug, food or cosmetic.“
Both the samples sent from Jones/Blasich and the ones that USADA ordered from the website tested positive not just for clomiphene and letrozole, the drugs Jones tested positive for, but also tamoxifen, a similar banned substance that didn’t come up in his tests. Blasich did have receipts to prove that he had ordered and received the capsules before Jones claimed to have ingested one…though the receipts also indicated he ordered clomiphene. Aside from maybe that last part, you take all of this into account and you have a case where, while there’s sketchiness, Jones did not intend to take the banned drugs. So why did he get the full one year suspension?
The sketchiness and lack of due diligence on Jones’ part plays into it, as the past sports arbitration cases cited as precedent establish that the athlete was being responsible and couldn’t have expected any kind of contamination. Jones didn’t do that, instead asking a new teammate for prescription erectile dysfunction medication almost out of the blue (Blasich talking about it doesn’t mean he’s offering it). Then he took an unmarked pill from someone he barely knew in spite of being a drug tested athlete.
The other problem was that Jones didn’t declare Cialis by any name on his forms with USADA. You’re supposed to put down every medication and supplement you’re taking so you can’t just test positive for something and say “Hey, I found a contaminated supplement with that in it!” later. Jones “gave different excuses for that lack of candour, embarrassment about disclosure of his use of so called Cialis on the one hand, perceived irrelevance on the other.” There was also concern over Tamoxifen not being found in his drug test, but the dosages in the capsules were inconsistent enough to explain that.
In closing, here’s how the arbitrators summarized their decision:
On the evidence before the Panel, the Applicant is not a drug cheat. He did not know that the tablet he took contained prohibited substances or that those substances had the capacity to enhance sporting performance. However by his imprudent use of what he pungently referred to as a “dick pill” he has not only lost a year of his career but an estimated nine million dollars. This outcome which he admits to be a wake-up call for him should serve as a warning to all others who participate in the same sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quochOMLsls
The full decision (PDF) in Jon Jones arbitration case against USADA makes for illuminating reading, and explains a lot more than just the statement that USADA issued along with it. It describes Jones, lawyer Howard Jacobs, and agent Malki Kawa attempting to make a case that is full of holes. The story goes something like this…
On June 14th or thereabouts, Jones was eating dinner with Eric Blasich, a new teammate at JacksonWink MMA, when Blasich told Jones that that he had been taking what he said was Cialis, the brand name for the erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil. Jones, who had previously taken Viagra (sildenafil) and understood the two drugs to be similar, asked Blasich if he could give him one. Blasich got the pills from his car and Jones took one immediately.
The “Cialis” was actually something that Blasich ordered from a website called “All American Peptides” without a prescription. The site is currently “down for maintenance,” but you can view an archive of their page for tadalafil. The package that they sell has the following disclaimers:
“This Product is for CHEMICAL RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION/USE. WARNING: If product is ingested accidently contact Poison Control.“
“This product is not a drug, food, or cosmetic and should not be misbranded, misused or mislabelled (sic) as a drug, food or cosmetic.“
Both the samples sent from Jones/Blasich and the ones that USADA ordered from the website tested positive not just for clomiphene and letrozole, the drugs Jones tested positive for, but also tamoxifen, a similar banned substance that didn’t come up in his tests. Blasich did have receipts to prove that he had ordered and received the capsules before Jones claimed to have ingested one…though the receipts also indicated he ordered clomiphene. Aside from maybe that last part, you take all of this into account and you have a case where, while there’s sketchiness, Jones did not intend to take the banned drugs. So why did he get the full one year suspension?
The sketchiness and lack of due diligence on Jones’ part plays into it, as the past sports arbitration cases cited as precedent establish that the athlete was being responsible and couldn’t have expected any kind of contamination. Jones didn’t do that, instead asking a new teammate for prescription erectile dysfunction medication almost out of the blue (Blasich talking about it doesn’t mean he’s offering it). Then he took an unmarked pill from someone he barely knew in spite of being a drug tested athlete.
The other problem was that Jones didn’t declare Cialis by any name on his forms with USADA. You’re supposed to put down every medication and supplement you’re taking so you can’t just test positive for something and say “Hey, I found a contaminated supplement with that in it!” later. Jones “gave different excuses for that lack of candour, embarrassment about disclosure of his use of so called Cialis on the one hand, perceived irrelevance on the other.” There was also concern over Tamoxifen not being found in his drug test, but the dosages in the capsules were inconsistent enough to explain that.
In closing, here’s how the arbitrators summarized their decision:
On the evidence before the Panel, the Applicant is not a drug cheat. He did not know that the tablet he took contained prohibited substances or that those substances had the capacity to enhance sporting performance. However by his imprudent use of what he pungently referred to as a “dick pill” he has not only lost a year of his career but an estimated nine million dollars. This outcome which he admits to be a wake-up call for him should serve as a warning to all others who participate in the same sport.
MMA legend and UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn has been cleared of all charges related to his case for alleged sexual assault, according to a report by TMZ.com.
TMZ reports that prosecutors in the case have come to the conclusion that they “don’t have suf…
MMA legend and UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn has been cleared of all charges related to his case for alleged sexual assault, according to a report by TMZ.com.
TMZ reports that prosecutors in the case have come to the conclusion that they “don’t have sufficient evidence to charge the case.”
Penn was scheduled to headline the UFC’s return to the Philippinnes against Ricardo Lamas until a number of issues forced the promotion to cancel the entire event.
There is no word yet regarding if and/or when BJ Penn will make his Octagon return.
Ahead of this Saturday’s UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor mega-event in New York, UFC has begun rolling out their usual “Fight Week” content.
Featured above is the complete hour-long special, “UFC 205 — Fighting For History,” which premiered on FOX this past Sunday evening to promote this coming Saturday’s debut event in New York.
The official description for UFC 205 — Fighting For History reads as follows:
“The UFC’s long road to New York culminates with UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Go behind the scenes with Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor as they prepare to make history in one of three title fights along with Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz.”
UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor takes place on Saturday, November 12th from the world-famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City.
Join us here at MMANews.com on 11/12 for live round-by-round results coverage of the entire UFC 205 pay-per-view.
https://youtu.be/SxwE4fPLU3c
Ahead of this Saturday’s UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor mega-event in New York, UFC has begun rolling out their usual “Fight Week” content.
Featured above is the complete hour-long special, “UFC 205 — Fighting For History,” which premiered on FOX this past Sunday evening to promote this coming Saturday’s debut event in New York.
The official description for UFC 205 — Fighting For History reads as follows:
“The UFC’s long road to New York culminates with UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Go behind the scenes with Eddie Alvarez and Conor McGregor as they prepare to make history in one of three title fights along with Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz.”
UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor takes place on Saturday, November 12th from the world-famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City.
Join us here at MMANews.com on 11/12 for live round-by-round results coverage of the entire UFC 205 pay-per-view.
On Monday, USADA issued their ruling in the Jon Jones case, serving the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with a one-year suspension for his positive drug test result leading up to his scheduled fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 back in July.
Below is the official release issued by USADA today with all of the details on their ruling:
MGSS Arbitration Panel Imposes One-Year Sanction on UFC Athlete, Jones, for Anti-Doping Policy Violation
November 7, 2016 – USADA announced today that an independent three-member arbitration panel from McLaren Global Sports Solutions, Inc. (MGSS) has rendered its decision in the case of UFC® athlete, Jon Jones, of Rochester, N.Y., and determined that Jones should receive the maximum one-year period of ineligibility for his anti-doping policy violation. This decision comes after the facts of the case were presented and fully argued at a day-long evidentiary hearing on October 31, 2016.
Jones, 29, tested positive for the presence of two prohibited substances, clomiphene and letrozole, following an out-of-competition urine test on June 16, 2016.Clomiphene and letrozole are both Specified Substances in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard sanction for a policy violation involving a Specified Substance is a one-year period of ineligibility.
Depending on the athlete’s degree of fault for the doping offense, the sanction for an anti-doping policy violation involving Specified Substances can range from a reprimand and no period of ineligibility, up to the standard one-year period of ineligibility. Here, the MGSS Panel, comprised entirely of specially trained arbitrators from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, concluded that Jones’ degree of fault was at the very top end of the scale.
Jones’ one-year period of ineligibility began on July 6, 2016, the date of his provisional sanction. In addition, Jones has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 6, 2016, including forfeiture of any title, ranking, purse, or other compensation.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (www.ufc.usada.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.ufc.globaldro.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.
On Monday, USADA issued their ruling in the Jon Jones case, serving the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with a one-year suspension for his positive drug test result leading up to his scheduled fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 back in July.
Below is the official release issued by USADA today with all of the details on their ruling:
MGSS Arbitration Panel Imposes One-Year Sanction on UFC Athlete, Jones, for Anti-Doping Policy Violation
November 7, 2016 – USADA announced today that an independent three-member arbitration panel from McLaren Global Sports Solutions, Inc. (MGSS) has rendered its decision in the case of UFC® athlete, Jon Jones, of Rochester, N.Y., and determined that Jones should receive the maximum one-year period of ineligibility for his anti-doping policy violation. This decision comes after the facts of the case were presented and fully argued at a day-long evidentiary hearing on October 31, 2016.
Jones, 29, tested positive for the presence of two prohibited substances, clomiphene and letrozole, following an out-of-competition urine test on June 16, 2016.Clomiphene and letrozole are both Specified Substances in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and are prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard sanction for a policy violation involving a Specified Substance is a one-year period of ineligibility.
Depending on the athlete’s degree of fault for the doping offense, the sanction for an anti-doping policy violation involving Specified Substances can range from a reprimand and no period of ineligibility, up to the standard one-year period of ineligibility. Here, the MGSS Panel, comprised entirely of specially trained arbitrators from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, concluded that Jones’ degree of fault was at the very top end of the scale.
Jones’ one-year period of ineligibility began on July 6, 2016, the date of his provisional sanction. In addition, Jones has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 6, 2016, including forfeiture of any title, ranking, purse, or other compensation.
USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping program for all UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport, and protect the rights of clean athletes. In an effort to aid UFC athletes, as well as their support team members, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on the UFC Anti-Doping Program website (www.ufc.usada.org) regarding the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.ufc.globaldro.com), conducts educational sessions, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, and periodic athlete alerts.
Ahead of this Saturday’s UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor mega-event in New York, UFC has begun rolling out their usual “Fight Week” content.
Featured above is episode one of the ongoing “UFC 205 Embedded” web-series, wh…
https://youtu.be/d5t-QBmWl3s
Ahead of this Saturday’s UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor mega-event in New York, UFC has begun rolling out their usual “Fight Week” content.
Featured above is episode one of the ongoing “UFC 205 Embedded” web-series, which will follow the top fighters up to their battles inside the Octagon this weekend.
The official description for UFC 205 Embedded episode one reads as follows:
“On Episode 1 of UFC 205 Embedded, it’s all business for the stars of New York City’s first-ever UFC event. Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez chalks up a win after his media call with opponent and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. McGregor pushes himself in training, while strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk combines hydration with motivation. Strawweight challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz follows a mitt session with a big-city shopping trip. Welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson continues his normal duties as a karate teacher and a mixed martial arts student, while champion Tyron Woodley also keeps his family close even in the gym. UFC 205 Embedded is an all-access, behind-the-scenes video blog leading up to the historic three-title UFC 205, taking place at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 12th. See it live on Pay-Per-View.”
On Saturday, UFC brought the Octagon back to Mexico for the first time in several months, and those who attended the show will likely agree that it was well worth the wait.
UFC Fight Night 98 emanated from Mexico City…
https://youtu.be/uQ3B0okRgUM
On Saturday, UFC brought the Octagon back to Mexico for the first time in several months, and those who attended the show will likely agree that it was well worth the wait.
UFC Fight Night 98 emanated from Mexico City on Saturday night with a fight card that aired live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) featuring Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tony Ferguson in the main event.
In his first Octagon appearance since losing the UFC Lightweight Championship to Eddie Alvarez at UFC Fight Night 90 back in July, Rafael dos Anjos fell to 0-2 with a tough unanimous decision loss to highly-regarded contender Tony Ferguson.
Below are several video clips, GIF images and still photos of the Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson bout from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 98 event, courtesy of the official UFC Twitter page.
For complete UFC Fight Night 98 results, click here.
