Jon Jones could be back.
Likely the greatest fighter to ever live, Jon “Bones” Jones, is currently belt-less and suspended from competition. Jones failed an in- competition drug test during his title reclamation at UFC 241 – popping for East-German anabolic Turinabol.
Jones’s fate is yet uncertain, though he has denied knowingly taking the enhancer and seems optimistic over social media. Jones’s rival and current champion Daniel Cormier recently defended the title, and during fight week Jones released news that he had taken and passed a polygraph test concerning the steroid accusations.
Now, Jones’ striking coach out of Team JacksonWink, Brandon “Six Gun” Gibson, has predicted that Jones will be back within the year. If accurate, this would be huge. Gibson tweeted:
“Let’s give this another try – I predict we see Jones vs DC 3 for the HW title Dec 29, 18.”
On paper, Jones is still facing a potentially lengthy suspension for the failed test. Furthermore, Jones’s previous failed test for two estrogen blockers was explained away by a contaminated sexual performance enhancer, but it’s unlikely that the rare designer drug Turinabol was stashed in a mislabeled supplement.
One factor acting in Jon Jones’s favor is that Jeff Novitszky is now an employee of the UFC. The former IRS agent and famous investigator behind Lance Armstrong’s eventual demise and the Balco case is now Vice President of Athlete Health And Performance. He recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and stated that Jon’s test results don’t indicate deliberate use. Jon gave the positive sample a on the day of weight ins before his victory, a day on which he knew he would be tested. So it is odd that he could escape prior unscheduled test and then pop on the collection he knew was coming.
Then again, it’s not the first time he has popped.
Interestingly, on the podcast, Novitszky basically revealed his real function for the UFC: navigating USADA violations for UFC fighters. He is basically employed to see fighters through proceedings and negotiate on their behalf with the testing organizations he knows so well. Interesting that the former crusader against drug use is now in a highly lucrative position where he helps fighters combat drug charges.
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