Jon Jones Odds: Will He Survive Another Positive Test?

How do you even? WTF?

The news that Jon Jones has failed another USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) in-competition drug test, performed prior to his UFC 214 light-heavyweight title fight against Daniel Cormier, is baffling to say the least.

Jones’ fight with Cormier marked his return from a year-long suspension due to a positive test for estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole ahead of UFC 200. A USADA arbitrator later ruled that Jones did not intentionally dope, but was negligent in taking tainted sexual enhancement pills.

This time around, it doesn’t look like the positive test has anything to do with erectile dysfunction, instead, it appears at first glance to be a “thinking dysfunction.” Early reports (yet to be confirmed by USADA) are that Jones tested positive for Turinabol (“T-bol” as the kids like to call it), an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) once linked to Olympic athletes from East Germany in the 1970s and 80s. The early information also suggests that Jones’ tests prior to his UFC 214 fight came back negative with only his in-competition sample popping positive the night of the fight.

Unlike many other AAS type ‘roids, Turinabol is taken orally in order to build lean muscle quickly without water retention or a rise in estrogen levels. It’s not the most potent steroid in terms of results in muscle gains and it’s commonly used in conjunction with a multi-steroid “stack” to enhance the other drugs being used.

Although T-bol has been back in vogue the last few years, because WADA-accredited labs were not able to test for the long-lasting metabolite of the drug until just last year, the new testing methods can detect the use of Turinabol months after it has been digested.

There is one ray of hope for Jones on this matter. USADA recently issued a 411 high-risk alert notifying the public that T-bol had shown up in tests on a number of tainted supplements. But they produced a list of those supplements, and any claim from Jones that his positive test resulted from use thereof would fall on deaf ears.

Of course, Jones’ camp is calling foul.

We are all at a complete loss for words right now. Jon, his trainers, his nutritionists and his entire camp have worked tirelessly and meticulously the past 12 months to avoid this exact situation. We are having the samples tested again to determine the validity or source of contamination. Jon is crushed by this news and we are doing whatever we can as a team, to support him.

Jones will see his day in court and it’s best to reserve judgment until he gets his due process and we have more details.

However, if the testing is conclusive and Jones is found guilty, he could wind up being suspended for a lengthy period of time. Because Turinabol is considered an S1 class substance on the WADA prohibited list, it carries a two-year suspension under the UFC’s USADA agreement. But since this would be Jones’ second violation, he could have the book thrown at him and be suspended the maximum four years under the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy.

There goes all that Lesnar super-fight talk.

If he gets the maximum, you have to wonder if this is it for Jones in the UFC. While the ensuring details will change the prognosis, let’s look at the early odds on the future of the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

JON JONES ODDS

ODDS JON JONES IS SUSPENDED: 3/17

• Odds Jones is suspended for 2 years: 3/2
• Odds Jones is suspended for 3 years: 2/1
• Odds Jones is suspended for 4 years: 17/3
• Odds Jones is suspended for 1 year: 9/1

ODDS JON JONES IS STRIPPED OF THE UFC LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: 1/3

ODDS JON JONES’ POSITIVE TEST IS OVERTURNED: 7/3

ODDS JON JONES IS LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AT THE END OF 2017: 50/1

ODDS JON JONES NEVER FIGHTS IN MMA AGAIN: 9/1

ODDS ON WHAT JON JONES WILL DO AFTER HIS UFC CAREER

• fade away into obscurity: 3/1
• become an MMA coach/trainer: 4/1
• pursue professional jiu-jitsu: 4/1
• fight overseas: 9/1
• join the WWE: 19/1
• act in movies/television: 19/1
• become an MMA analyst: 25/1
• start a podcast: 25/1
• open a nightclub: 100/1
• creates his own brand of sexual enhancement pills: 125/1