UFC fighter Jon Jones is relieved to see the USADA go and hopes his past knockout win over Daniel Cormier, which was overturned due to a failed drug test, will be restored.
Jon Jones, the current heavyweight champion of the UFC, expressed his lack of sadness over the news that the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will no longer be partnering with the UFC starting January. He took to social media to share his thoughts, stating that he survived USADA and expressing his desire to have a past knockout win against his rival Daniel Cormier reinstated. Jones claimed that he has never cheated in the sport and vowed to stand by that assertion.
Jones has had a complicated history with the USADA. In 2016, he was removed from a championship bout with Cormier after testing positive for banned substances. He later received a one-year suspension, as the USADA confirmed contamination of an off-brand sex pill. In 2017, Jones defeated Cormier but the result was overturned due to a positive test for anabolic steroids. Despite this, the USADA reduced his suspension to 15 months after determining that he did not knowingly take a banned substance.
The turinabol saga continued in 2018 when a trace amount of the steroid was found in Jones’ system prior to a fight against Alexander Gustafsson. Although the Nevada Athletic Commission declined to license him, the California State Athletic Commission found no evidence of re-administration. Jones believes he has been vindicated by the investigations into his drug test history and the changes made by the USADA. Now, with the agency no longer involved, he hopes for further action to be taken regarding his record.
Jones has an impressive professional record with only two blemishes: the no-contest against Cormier and a disqualification in 2009. He and UFC CEO Dana White have both called for the disqualification to be overturned. Jones recently won the vacant heavyweight title and is set to defend it against former champion Stipe Miocic in his first title defense.