USADA confirms that Jon Jones' B sample gives same result
A spokesman for the United States Anti-Doping agency confirmed to Yahoo Sports on Friday that the testing on UFC star Jon Jones’ B sample provided the same result as his first. Jones was pulled from UFC 200 and his fight for the light heavyweight title against Daniel Cormier on Wednesday when USADA reported that Jones’ A sample tested positive for a banned substance.
In an email in response to a question from Yahoo Sports about the testing of the B sample, Madden said, “I can confirm that Mr. Jones’ B sample results have been reported by the laboratory, and that the results confirm the findings of the A sample.”
It is believed that Jones tested positive for two separate banned substances, but USADA won’t release the name of the PED(s) until there has been a finding of guilt. It is on Jones to release it and so far, he has chosen not to do so.
Jones denied at a new conference Thursday knowingly taken a banned substance and alluded to the fact that he may have taken a contaminated supplement. Even if it turns out to be a contaminated supplement that caused the positive test, it would be considered an anti-doping violation.
USADA suggests to athletes that they not take supplements, and tells them that even if there are no banned ingredients on the label, they are responsible if it turns out the supplement was contaminated. Athletes have the right to have supplements tested before they take them, but Jones did not have that done.
In assessing punishment, USADA will consider intent following a guilty finding. UFC middleweight Yoel Romero was able to prove that a tainted supplement caused his positive test. So instead of getting the standard two-year suspension, USADA suspended him for six months.
According to Madden, an athlete whose B sample has been confirmed the same as the A either can accept a sanction or enter an appeals process via arbitration. Jones would be able, for instance, to make the same argument about a contaminated supplement that Romero successfully made.
Romero’s agent, Malki Kawa, also represents Jones. Kawa failed to respond to text messages Friday seeking comment.
