The two banned substances Jon Jones tested positive for stemming from a random drug test conducted by USADA on June 16th were yesterday confirmed at the Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing.
The substances included hydroxyl-clomiphene, an anti-estrogenic agent, and letrozole metabolite, which is an aromatase inhibitor; both are classified as estrogen blockers. Estrogen blockers help restart natural testosterone production in your body and have been known to be used in combination with performance enhancing drugs in order to reduce side effects such as gynecomastia (i.e. enlargement of a man’s breasts), usually due to hormone imbalance or hormone therapy.
The NSAC committee voted unanimously in favour of giving the former UFC light heavyweight champion a temporary suspension until a formal hearing can be conducted later this year. Attorney Howard Jacobs has been hired by the Jones camp and has previously defended fighters such as Sean Sherk, Alexander Shlemenko and Tim Means on PED-related charges.
The NSAC protocol is just one of two ‘Bones’ faces. He will also need to go through the USADA due process, which could come with a potential suspension of two years. The Nevada suspension is really down to their own discretion.
Last year they slapped Nick Diaz with a five-year suspension for a failed drug test at UFC 183, later reduced to 18 months following a public outcry over the pot bust. And they also gave Wanderlei Silva a life time ban for refusing to submit to a drug test, which was later overturned.
Following yesterday’s hearing, Jones took to twitter to further deny the accusations and communicated his believe in the due process he is about to face with both the NSAC and USADA.
“Don’t write me of just yet, I know in my heart that I’m not a cheater,” stated the former UFC light heavyweight champion. “I trust in the system to help me prove it.”
