Jon Jones Elects to Bypass VADA Testing Recommended by CSAC Ahead of UFC 232

While Jon Jones remains in the USADA drug testing pool, he will not submit to Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) testing prior to UFC 232.

According to a report from MMAjunkie.com, Jones and his team declined to submit to additional testing ahead of his Dec. 29 title bout against Alexander Gustafsson. The California State Athletic Commission recommended the VADA testing during a hearing in which it unanimously voted to reinstate the former light heavyweight champion’s license.

At that hearing, Jones agreed in principle to participate in the program, in which all expenses of the testing would have been covered by CSAC. It was not mandatory as part of his licensure, however. Jones’ attorney, Howard Jacobs, told MMAjunkie.com that there were “some issues” with the VADA testing. The screenings would have been only for performance enhancing drugs.

Jones has twice been sanctioned by USADA for failed drug tests. The Jackson-Wink MMA product tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol in an in-competition drug test in relation to his UFC 214 bout against Daniel Cormier. “Bones” also tested positive for two anti-estrogen agents ahead of UFC 200 in July 2016, which led to him being pulled from a proposed bout against Cormier.

Joens will be subject to drug testing from both USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission ahead of his rematch with Gustafsson, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.