Again?! Jon Jones flagged by USADA

Published on Wednesday, 8/23/17, at 12:24 a.m. Eastern.

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones was informed of a potential USADA violation Tuesday night, leaving his UFC future in doubt once again.

The promotion released the following statement:

“The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jon Jones of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an in-competition sample collected following his weigh-in on July 28, 2017.

USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Jones, as it relates to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and future UFC participation. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) also retains jurisdiction over this matter as the sample collection was performed the day before Jones’ bout at UFC 214 in Anaheim, CA., and USADA will work to ensure that the CSAC has the necessary information to determine its proper judgement of Jones’ potential anti-doping violation.”

Jones tested positive for turinabol, an old-school East German anabolic steroid that was popular during the Cold War and helped East German athletes to great success at the Olympic Games.

Jones’ manager Malik Kawa released the following statement:

“We are all at a complete loss for words right now. Jon, his trainers, his nutritionists and his entire camp have worked tirelessly and meticulously the past 12 months to avoid this exact situation. We are having the samples tested again to determine the validity or source of contamination. Jon is crushed by this news and we are doing whatever we can as a team to support him.”

Jones has been issued a provisional suspension, but he hasn’t been officially stripped of his UFC light-heavyweight belt.

At least not yet, that is.

If the findings of this test are held up, however, Jones will be facing a suspension of 2-4 years since this is his second USADA violation. Remember, he tested positive for two banned substances just days before his UFC 200 showdown with Daniel Cormier.

That resulted in a one-year suspension for Jones, who took back his 205-pound strap from Cormier nearly a month ago via third-round knockout.

UFC President Dana White held a brief media scrum hours after the news broke following the fights at the Tuesday Night Contender Series. When asked how close a rematch between Jones and Alexander Gustafsson was from being booked, White said, “We were talking about Jones fighting at heavyweight [vs. champion Stipe Miocic in Detroit] probably.”

Whoa! I’m not sure anyone was expecting that superfight to be in our near future, and now it isn’t.

Then White was quizzed about what will happen in the light-heavyweight loop if Jones fails in his appeal efforts. White said, “As far as I’m concerned, Cormier would be the champion. The only guy he’s ever lost to in his whole career is Jon Jones. I mean, he’s the champion if Jones isn’t.”

Maybe there’s a valid explanation? Maybe not. Only time will tell.

How much time, you ask? According to UFC VP of Athlete and Health Performance Jeff Novitzky, “It’s too early to tell. We’re only hours removed from finding out. I’ve seen these things get settled in less than a month, but sometimes it can take six months to a year.”

Whatever the case, this adds another sordid chapter to the career of Jones, who nearly all consider to be the most talented fighter to ever grace the Octagon.

But time and time again (and again, and again), Jon ‘Bones’ Jones continues to kill his career with unfathomable actions and decisions. And in this instance with his present and future in complete disarray, we all have to wonder if Jones is out of chances and has burned his last get-out-of-jail-free card.