Jon Jones had an impressive victory over Alexander Gustafsson to claim the light heavyweight title at UFC 232 last month, but the victory was clouded by the return of an abnormal drug test from Jones prior to the fight.
Jones had tested positive for the same M3 metabolite that he had originally been suspended 15-months for; however, USADA ruled that the amount found in his system was consistent with "residual amounts" leftover from the positive test submitted in July 2017. With Jones deemed innocent by USADA, the fight went on as planned and Jones defeated Gustafsson with masterful grace, although he still faced accusations of cheating.
On Thursday, however, California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster confirmed to ESPN that Jones had been tested by both the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the commission on the night of his fight at UFC 232, and all tests have come back negative of banned substances.
"I can only go by what the scientists have told me," Foster told ESPN. "And what this tells me is that on the night of the fight, and leading up to the fight, Jon Jones was not doping."
With Jones seemingly cleared once and for all, he can now focus on his next opponent, Anthony Smith. The two
will meet as the main event of UFC 235 on March 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, provided he's granted a license.