The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) confirmed yesterday that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (23-1-0, 1NC) passed multiple post-UFC 232 drug tests.
Breaking: Jon Jones was drug tested by USADA and the California State Athletic Commission on the night of UFC 232 on Dec. 29 and all tests have come back clean. No picograms of the M3 metabolite, which was the source of all the controversy and drama last month, were found.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) January 10, 2019
Jones, 31, defeated Alexander Gustafsson Dec. 29 at UFC 232 to claim the belt, but has been unable to escape suspicion since previously testing positive for picograms of the M3 metabolite on Dec. 9, forcing UFC 232 to be moved to Inglewood, California from Las Vegas. The tests were explained by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as a ‘pulsing effect’ from a previous violation. He was also sanctioned for a July 2017 pre-UFC 214 drug test, where he tested positive for the steroid Turinbol and stripped of the belt and suspended for 15 months.
A pending title defence against Anthony Smith (31-13-0), 30, who is on a three fight win streak and submitted Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Fight Night 138 in October awaits. ‘Bones’ is currently listed as a massive -1000 (1/10) favourite by bookmakers. Smith is a +700 (7/1) according to BetOnLine.com. Jones needs to obtain a licence from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) before the fight can be confirmed official by the UFC.
It appears to be onward and upwards to UFC 235 for Jones, as only a license from the NSAC hearing awaits.
