Jones (photo) has eight consecutive title defenses. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
the news that Jon Jones had been caught in a surprise drug test a month before UFC 182 is just the beginning of a controversy that seems far from over. This Wednesday (7), the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, the body that requested the test, Bob Bennett, classified the exam as an “administrative failure” and confirmed that the case will be reviewed in a future meeting to be held by the entity.
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In an examination carried out on December 4, Jones was caught with the substance benzoylmethylecgonine, one of the main active ingredients in cocaine. However, according to the regulations of WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is followed by the Nevada Commission, the substance is not banned in the out-of-competition period, that is, 12 hours before the sporting event. Thus, Jones will have maintained his victory against Daniel Cormier, as well as the UFC light heavyweight belt.
Precisely because the commission does not have the authority to punish an athlete for using cocaine outside the competition period, Bennett stated that the test carried out was an “anomaly”. According to him, the entity should not have requested the test for recreational drugs on that date. “That was an anomaly that will be addressed on January 12th. It was not something requested by the Nevada Commission. That appears to have been an administrative failure,” said Bennett, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”. Bennett also revealed that Jones was tested and passed a new test two weeks later, although, at the time, standard protocol was followed – there were tests only for substances such as anabolic steroids, and not for recreational drugs.
The controversy will be debated at the next Nevada Commission meeting, next Monday. The matter will be the 15th item to be discussed on the meeting's agenda, classified as: “Discussion and possible action with regard to the commission's anti-doping testing program in the out-of-competition period.”
Also according to the North American publication, the positive result of Jones' test was known on December 23, the approximate date on which the UFC was also notified of the incident. However, Jones would have become aware of the episode only after his fight against Daniel Cormier.
Within the so-called “competition period”, both Jones and Cormier were tested twice: a urine test shortly before the fight, and a blood and urine test shortly after. The results have not yet been released. If Jones tests positive again for the same substance, he will be subject to disciplinary punishment from the Nevada Commission, as it would be an infraction due to the competition period.
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