It was revealed today that Jon Jones has once again tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol. In a pre-fight test carried out by VADA (the voluntary anti-doping association), Jones tested positive for the same turinabol metabolite he was suspended for following his fight against Daniel Cormier in 2017. The same metabolite that caused UFC 232 to be moved to California in the first place. The metabolite we already knew was in his system.
While it was previously thought that turinabol wouldn’t remain in the user’s system for more than 40-50 days, according to ‘scientists’ (as described by the California State Athletic Commission executive, Andy Foster) this same metabolite has been in Jones’ system for over 17 months…
“I spoke with the scientists,” Foster said. “They stand by their original statement. Nothing has changed. We’ve already punished Jon Jones for the M3 metabolite, which is a long-term metabolite. There’s no grounds to charge somebody twice for the same violation.”
Jon Jones has residual metabolite
The UFC now has a theory as to why this metabolite is still appearing in Jon Jones’ test results (note that it does not show in every test, only a handful). According to UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky, the M3 metabolite is simply ‘pulsing’ – showing up at different types. Novitzky has hypothesized that the turinabol metabolite shows in drug tests when Jones is cutting weight, or doing heavy exercise…
“Science-wise, it does make some sense,” Novitzky said. “Once again, there was no parent compound and none of the short- or medium-term metabolites, which tend to stick around for three or weeks. So this is even more indicative that for whatever reason this long-term metabolite is just hanging around in these tissues and they get expressed when you’re going through weight loss.”
Well… colour me convinced. What is better that a bit of science that makes ‘some sense’.
I mean… at least make this farcical excuse even a little convincing.
There will be no action taken by VADA, or the CSAC, so Jones can continue as normal ahead of his hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission before his fight with Anthony Smith at UFC 235.
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