Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Friday 21 September 2018

UFC's Jones suspended 15 months by USADA; can return in fall

By GREG BEACHAM spect in the fight communi-
AP Sports Writer ty to the point of question-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — For- ing why they even exist."
mer UFC light heavyweight Jones (22-1, 1 no-contest) is
champion Jon Jones is eli- widely considered the best
gible to return to competi- pound-for-pound mixed
tion by late October after martial artist in the world,
completing a 15-month but he has repeatedly sab-
suspension for a doping otaged his own career.
violation. He reclaimed the light
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agen- heavyweight title from
cy on Wednesday an- Daniel Cormier last year,
nounced the length of but the victory was taken
Jones' ban for his second away when he tested posi-
violation of the UFC's anti- tive.
doping policy. He has been Jones also failed an out-
suspended since testing of-competition doping test
positive for a steroid me- in 2016, testing positive for
tabolite last summer, and two anti-estrogen agents.
the ban will conclude Oct. That result forced the late
28 — 15 months after the cancellation of his head-
collection of the positive line bout against Cormier
sample. In this July 7, 2016, file photo, mixed martial arts fighter Jon Jones reacts as he speaks during a at UFC 200. Jones, who
The decision by an arbitra- news conference in Las Vegas. claimed the result was due
tor means the 31-year-old Associated Press to a sexual enhancement
Jones could even fight at pill, received a yearlong
UFC 230 in New York on will. But now is the time to stances, and he passed fore UFC 230, which cur- suspension.
Nov. 3, if the mixed martial shift the focus front and several out-of-competition rently has no main event Jones tested positive for
arts promotion decides to center to the road ahead. drug tests leading up to his for Madison Square Gar- cocaine use in 2015, later
book his comeback bout Greatness is what I'm chas- failed in-competition test, den — attracted bemuse- publicly acknowledging
on that card. ing and the path to re- one day before UFC 214 in ment from some of his fel- that he used the drug. His
"It's difficult to express my- claiming my throne is now Anaheim, California. low fighters on Twitter. checkered history also in-
self at this moment, but I officially open. Comeback California State Athletic Lightweight champion cludes an arrest after a hit-
can definitely say my heart Season begins now." Commission executive of- Khabib Nurmagomedov and-run accident in New
is filled with gratitude and Jones could have been ficer Andy Foster said his used an expletive to refer Mexico in which he broke
appreciation," Jones said suspended for four years group is "agreeable, in to USADA while complain- a pregnant woman's arm in
in a statement posted on for a second failed test, but concept" to the 15-month ing its decision includes too 2015, a scuffle with Corm-
his social media accounts. arbitrator Richard H. McLar- suspension, but added "much politics." ier in a casino lobby while
"I want to thank all of you en determined the ban's that Jones still must pay a Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes promoting a bout in 2014,
who have stood by me dur- length by evaluating Jones' $205,000 fine. also weighed in : "No shade and an arrest for driving un-
ing the toughest stretch of degree of fault. Jones The relative leniency of the to JJ but no one is surprised der the influence after he
my life. It has meant the claimed he didn't know- suspension — and the fact by this arbitrary decision. crashed his Bentley into a
world to me and always ingly take any banned sub- that it ends one week be- USADA is steadily losing re- pole in 2012.q

World Anti-Doping Agency

reinstates Russia

sia's cheating. stored in its Moscow lab, recommended Russia be
WADA decided to reinstate WADA president Craig reinstated. That led to fierce
Russia after backtracking Reedie said, but no date criticism from anti-doping
on two key conditions it was announced. figures — some from within
had set for reinstatement: There was no mention of WADA itself — and athletes
That Russia accept a re- Russia publicly accepting from around the world op-
port that concluded state a state-sponsored conspir- posed to Russia's reinstate-
involvement in the doping acy to help its athletes win ment.
The May 24, 2016 file photo shows a RUSADA sign reading "Rus-
sian National Anti-doping Agency" on a building in Moscow, and cover-ups, and that Olympic medals by dop- Reedie's vice president at
Russia. Russia give access to evi- ing. WADA, Norwegian politi-
Associated Press dence stored in its discred- Reedie said a majority of cian Linda Helleland, said
ited Moscow laboratory. the executive commit- she would not be voting for
VICTORIA, Seychelles (AP) doping scheme. In announcing its decision tee voted to reinstate Rus- reinstatement.
— The World Anti-Doping WADA's decision after a to find the Russian Anti- sia but didn't say what the The Russian Anti-Doping
Agency reinstated Rus- vote of its 12-member ex- Doping Agency compli- vote count was. Agency was suspended in
sia on Thursday despite a ecutive committee was ant, WADA said it would Signs that WADA had sud- November 2015 after the
wave of protests, ending called "the greatest treach- be "subject to strict condi- denly softened its stance doping scandal, which
the nearly three-year sus- ery against clean athletes tions." on Russia came last week centered on helping Rus-
pension of the country's in Olympic history" by the There is now a "clear time- when one of its key com- sian athletes win medals at
drug-testing program be- lawyer of the whistleblower line" for Russia to grant mittees suddenly changed the 2014 Sochi Olympics,
cause of a state-sponsored who helped uncover Rus- WADA access to samples direction and surprisingly was revealed.q