Report: Jon Jones Turns Down VADA Testing Ahead of UFC 232
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones faces Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 232, with the winner claiming the soon to be vacated UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
A soon to be returning Jones was recently granted a license to fight in the state of California again by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after serving a fifteen month suspension for a failed drug test in line with UFC 214. While the license to fight in the state was granted, it was also recommended by the CSAC that Jones participate in additional drug testing from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).
Jones, who is already being tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in the lead up to the fight, has reportedly turned down VADA testing according to MMA Junkie.
The former light heavyweight champion has previously failed two drug tests, one before UFC 200 and the other was the aforementioned one in line with UFC 214.
Howard Jacobs, who serves as Jones’ attorney, says that there were some issues with the CSAC proposal for VADA testing, which ultimately led to the fighter declining to participate in it. VADA testing, unlike USADA testing, will only test for performance enhancing drugs and not drugs that a person can abuse. Also, if Jones had failed a VADA test, punishment would be determined by the state athletic commission, which is different from a USADA test failure, in which USADA determines the punishment.
UFC 232 takes place on Saturday, December 29 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
