Team Gustafsson Issues Statement On Jon Jones’ Positive Test Result
It has now been reported that a VADA issued drug test for Jones on the day of weigh-ins came back positive for a long term metabolite that the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) already knew was in the fighter’s system.
The fighter will not be facing any punishment for the positive drug test, which has left a bad taste in the mouth of Team Gustafsson.
Nina Safapour, who is Gustafsson’s manager, issued the following statement to MMA Fighting on the matter:
“The inconclusive and inconsistent results that are repeatedly occurring with Jon Jones, at the very least, should compel our industry to have a greater, deeper, and more impartial discussion about the legitimacy of Jon’s defense. Jon has gone out publicly boasting when some of his results come back negative. However, he remains silent when his test results come back positive. You can not have it both ways and cherry-pick the results that are favorable for you, and insist that we disregard the results that go against your interests. Jon has essentially received a use exemption on a strict liability violation. The science is not certain on the defense he has taken. Furthermore, science is always in a state of change. So the science we rely on today is different than the science we relied on from just a few years ago. It will probably change again going forward. Jones is also creating a precedent that will go beyond his personal interests in the sense that now other fighters will also seek use exemptions on a strict liability violation based on an issue that the science community is still divided on. It’s an absolute mess.”
Jones will appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) next week in an attempt to get a license to fight in the state of Nevada.
