The Nevada State Athletic Commission today confirmed the substances for which Jon Jones tested positive prior to his ill-fated title unifier with light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier at UFC 200.
Jones came back positive for hydroxy-clomiphene, “an anti-estrogenic agent” and “letrozole metabolite,” an “aromatase inhibitor,” NSAC attorney Caroline Bateman said today during a hearing in Las Vegas. The substances, which are both banned year-round by the World Anti-Doping Agency, are consistent with the type named by Jones’ ex-training partner and opponent, Rashad Evans, who first claimed the interim champ tested positive for estrogen blockers.
Estrogen blockers can potentially act in tandem with performance-enhancers by helping to mitigate their side effects, and are also thought to restart natural testosterone production.
A temporary suspension placed on Jones’ Nevada fight license was subsequently extended by a unanimous vote, while a formal hearing is expected for September or October. Jones has retained noted anti-doping attorney Howard Jacobs, who’s previously defended MMA fighters Sean Sherk, Alexander Shlemenko, and, most recently, Tim Means. Jacobs aided UFC middleweight Means during his ultimately successful appeal to the promotion’s anti-doping partner, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
