MMA
Chamatkar Sandhu, ESPN 6y

Jon Jones' manager 'very confident' of USADA decision by end of July

MMA

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones may finally be close to a resolution with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Jones (22-1) tested positive for Turinabol, a steroid, stemming from an in-competition drug test in relation to UFC 214 last July, when he defeated Daniel Cormier in the main event. The result was later overturned to a "no contest" by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

This past February, Jones had his MMA license revoked by the CSAC and was fined $205,000. The CSAC recommended that any reinstatement only occur once he had completed his case with the USADA, which may or may not include a suspension.

Jones' manager, Malki Kawa, made an appearance on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show on Monday and shed some light on Jones and where things currently stand with the USADA.

"I'm very confident we will have a decision on this thing by the end of this month," Kawa said. "They're pushing hard. I know everyone involved is working hard to come to a resolution. I know that the UFC is anxiously waiting and we're dealing with USADA on a daily basis. They've been really good with us as far as really investigating this thing and looking at it from a lot of different angles and stuff."

"To me this program should not try to punish guys that they know aren't trying to cheat," Kawa explained. "To them, the right thing could be he's innocent but he's still going to have suspension because he was negligent. So, you can get punished for being negligent, you can get punished for cheating. We'll see what they come up with this time.

"I'm hoping he gets cleared in the next month or so and that the opportunity to fight presents itself. If it's next year, early next year or whatever it is, I'm confident."

As for Jones' thoughts on his rival, Daniel Cormier, capturing the UFC heavyweight title this past weekend at UFC 226, Kawa says his client was happy with the situation.

"His words to me were, 'good for him, I guess now we can say welcome to the club, he's actually a champion, he won the heavyweight belt, and no one can take that from him. He's the heavyweight champion of the world,'" Jones told Kawa. "Then he said, 'Malki, this is the best thing that could ever happen. Now I have the choice of coming back and can kick his ass at light heavyweight or heavyweight.'"

"He beat the guy twice, he's not jealous," Kawa said. "When you beat the guy twice, and the second time was more definitive than the first, Jon looks at it and says, 'All right great, now I can come back and fight at my choice, heavyweight or light heavyweight.'"

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