Jon Jones, interim UFC light heavyweight champion, was pulled from UFC 200 due to a potential U.S. Anti-Doping Agency violation on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com.
An out-of-competition sample tested positive for a banned substance on June 16. Jones’ UFC 200 fight against defending light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier would have been his title unification bout, but there is not enough time to review the positive test before Saturday.
“It is important to note that under the UFC anti-doping policy, there’s a full, fair legal-review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed,” Jeff Novitzky, UFC’s vice president of athlete health and performance, said.
UFC president Dana White made the announcement on Wednesday at the MGM Grand. He and Jones have not discussed it yet, and at this point in time it is not clear whether the substance Jones tested positive for was a performance-enhancing drug.
If the substance was a performance-enhancing drug, the penalty under UFC’s anti-doping program is a two-year suspension.
