An arbitrator levied a 15-month backdated suspension in MMA fighter Jon Jones pending anti-doping case. The suspension is retroactive meaning time spent on the sidelines will count against the overall sentence. ESPN.com's Ariel Helwani shared the official statement from the USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency).
https://twitter.com/_/status/1042562695357194241
The statement written by USADA CEO Travis Tygart reads: "The independent arbitrator found that Jon Jones was not intentionally cheating in this case, and while we thought 18 months was the appropriate sanction given the other circumstances of the case, we respect the arbitrator's decision and believe that justice was served."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn7ZGnkhiJY
Jon Jones jumped on Instagram to express his gratitude for the favorable ruling. In July 2017, Jon Jones' knockout of Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 was ruled a no-contest after a chlorine-substituted anabolic steroid was found in his system following a post-fight drug test. Jones was then barred from competition by UFC president Dana White, deferring the final ruling to the USADA, which he then promised to abide by, for better or worse.
Should he return to the UFC, a 3rd and decisive rematch with Daniel Cormier would be logical step from a marketing perspective, but Dana White might want to stage warm-up fight before it gets to that point. There are few unthinkable options on the "light heavy" ladder, but none seem more viable than a Cormier-Jones matchup. How would you like to see the "light heavy" division play out?
