Jon Jones Just Cant Get Right. Pulled From UFC 200

06 Jul, 2016

Interim UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been pulled from his title unification bout against Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 on Saturday, after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informed Jones of a potential doping violation on Wednesday.

UFC president Dana White announced the move during an impromptu news conference at MGM Grand Hotel.

Jones tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition sample taken June 16 by USADA, said Jeff Novitzky, UFC’s vice president of athlete health and performance. USADA administers the UFC’s anti-drug policy.

A heavyweight fight between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt will now headline UFC 200, which takes place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Jones has the right to appeal any positive test. He has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but did test positive for traces of cocaine prior to a fight against Cormier in January 2015.

Jones also served a suspension from April to October after his involvement in a hit-and-run accident.

Under the UFC’s anti-doping program, which is administered by USADA and went into effect last July, a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug carries a standard 2-year suspension.

White said he’d like to find Cormier, the defending light heavyweight champion, a new opponent, but that would be difficult given the timing.

Cormier, who appeared next to White during the news conference, said he’d put in the work and would accept a new fight if the UFC could find one that “made sense.”

ESPN

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