By now close to everyone has heard that UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones failed his prefight drug test for cocaine metabolites. The promotion has already released a statement touting their support as rightfully they do! However there's an issue other than his personal well being (which is important), and the fact he fought with stimulants in his system. Supporting Jon Jones the man has absolutely nothing to do with the title. There's a fight scheduled later this month between Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Alexander Gustaffson that was a #1 contender fight should now be for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship! Not an interim championship or anything of that nature! When Jones can prove himself healthy and ready to be a representative for the company he can return and be reinstated as champion (if he chooses to stay at LHW). Thus setting up a unification but with whomever the champion may be at that point. Also it could be the break in action for him to move up (some would say finally) as there is maybe only one or two new fights at LHW. This is a proactive approach and not reactive... Something the Zuffa needs to try more often... If something occurs and Jones return doesn't happen it won't need to be addressed, because there's already a champion!
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"The Nevada commission follows the World Anti-Doping Agency code and benzoylecgonine is not banned out-of-competition. As a result, the commission was unable to penalize Jones or prevent him from fighting despite knowing of the positive test.
ReplyDeleteIt conducted a follow-up test later in December that Jones passed. Yahoo Sports was unable to get the exact date of the second test that Jones passed." (Source: Yahoo! News)
If he passed the second test that occurred before the fight, there are no grounds to make him relinquish, or be stripped of the title.