UFC 232 will go on a🤪s scheduled next weekend, but the event will have a n🍌ew venue thanks to Jon Jones.
that an "atypical finding" in a drug test administered to Jon Jones earlier ಞthis month has led t♑he UFC to move UFC 232 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
A trace amount of Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (DHCMT), or turinabol, was reporte😼dly in Jones' system. This is the same substance Jones tested positive for in 2017, which led to him being suspended fo🐲r 15 months.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission would not clear Jones to fight next weekend as they do not have the proper time to investigate the matter. As a result, the UFC is moving the entire card to The Forum in Inglewood, CA as 🐎the California State Athletic Commission will approve a license for Jones.
Jones was al🧸lowed to withdraw his fight application with the NSAC in order to fight in California. He will appear in front of the NSAC in January.
The NSAC issued the f𝓀ollowing press release on the 🐼manner:
Today, Nevada State Ath💞letic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Bob Bennett announced that, in consultation with NSAC Commission Chair Anthony Marnell III, unarmed combatant Jon Jones will be allowed to withdraw his pending application for licensure, which was intended to clear him to fight in a💛 major contest in Nevada later this month
After extensive analysis of Mr. Jones’ prior 18 months of 𝓀USADA in- and out-of-competition anti-doping drug testing results, Director Bennett, Chair Marnell and Mr. Jones agree that he will appear at an evidentiary hearing in January. This will allow for a measured, thoughtful and comprehensive discussion of his anti-doꦛping testing protocol and results and provide an opportunity for the NSAC to determine the appropriate path forward for him in Nevada. We look forward to this hearing.
Jones is scheduled to fight Alexander G💖ustafsson for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title in the main event of next weekend's card.
noted that Gustafsson h💎ad already been in Las Vegas for a week and was on a four-hour helicopter ride around the Grand Canyon at the time the news broke and likely wasn't even aware of the change. UFC fighters, including an outspoken Megan Anderson, me♍ntioned that she wasn't informed of the change and UFC didn't initially make an official announcement about the move.
Helwani also reports that CSAC head Andy Foster was informed of the UFC's desire to move UFC 232 on Friday night. Foster collected the data and orchestrated a surprise urine test for Jones, who passed it. Foster also stressed that the metabolites foun🍨d were long term and believes Jones is a clean fighter.
UFC VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky said Jones’ positi🍸ve test is not a USADA violation and that Jones has been cleared to fight. Novitzky believes the test is a “pulsing” effect and not a new ꧟ingestion of the substance that he tested positive for after defeating Daniel Cormier at UFC 214.
USADA filed♋ an official statement, which you c🎶an see below.
USADA ꧟Statement on Jon Jones Sample and UFC Anti-Dopin🍸g Policy
— USADA UFC Anti-Doping Program (@USADA_UFC)
Dana White backed Novitzky 🧜in saying Jones did nothing wrong.
UFC 232 is scheduled for 𝓰Dec. 29. Fightful will provide live coverage of the event along🎉 with a post-show podcast.
