There were adverse finds in two of the five drug tests Jones took in the lead up to the fight and UFC Vice President Of Athlete Health & Performance Jeff Novitzky explains how that came to be.
“Typically, a fighter is getting ready for a fight will gradually increase that intensity, peak, and then maybe a couple weeks out, taper off so they’re fresh for the fight,” Novitzky said during a recent media session (via MMA Junkie). “That was right in the heart of when Jon, what his camp has told me, was peaking in his training for this fight.”
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has cleared Jones to fight, clearing the way for any potential hurdles ahead of UFC 235.
Novitzky says Jones most likely used some form of PEDs in the past, but is a clean athlete right now.
“Obviously there’s been some sort of indiscretion there,” he said. “At some point in time he’s used PEDs and I don’t think we can argue that. But as far as now: I think Jon is a clean athlete.”
UFC 235 takes place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Jon Jones and Anthony Smith headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
