Those hoping to see former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones in the octagon this year are likely to be disappointed after his recent hearing following his doping suspension from his last fight at UFC 214.

Jones faced the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) in his first appeal as his license to fight in the state was revoked following his positive test for the steroid Turinabol. The commission did not pull any punches though as they upheld his suspension and levied a $205,000 fine.

That is roughly 40% of the reported purse that Jones received for his title fight at UFC 214.

He will be eligible to apply to be reinstated in a year, which is retroactive from when the offense took place. So August is the earliest that he can apply to fight again.

His troubles are not over though as Jones has to answer next to the USADA, which is employed by the UFC to run its performance-enhancing drug testing system. As a repeat offender, Jones could face up to a four-year suspension for his latest transgression.

Incriminating himself

Part of Jones' strategy was pleading willful ignorance to the CSAC. He also had a self-administered polygraph test that supposedly proved his innocence. His basic argument was that if a banned substance was in his system, then he must have ingested it unknowingly.

It was a weak argument that the board quickly decimated. During heated questioning from commissioner Martha Shen-Urquidez, Jones admitted that he did not disclose the ten supplements that he was taking during training to the UFC. He only provided the list of supplements after his sample tested positive. This alone makes it hard to believe Jones had somehow taken a substance that he wasn't supposed to.

He signed a document stating he provided this list. That lie all but doomed Jone's appeal.

Another startling discovery was Jones admission that he did not watch the USADA tutorials that were mandatory for all fighters. These videos educate fighters on what they can and cannot take for supplements and how to make sure that they do not run afoul of anti-doping rules.

By paying his management team to watch the videos and take notes, Jones has no one to blame but himself.

Does he have a shot with his USADA appeal?

At this point, things do not look good for Jones' appeal with USADA. Incriminating himself twice during his first appeal is going to make it really hard to convince the USADA that he did everything in his power to operate within the rules.

The USADA has the power to hit Jones with a four-year suspension, which would ultimately end his career. Another multi-year layoff would likely see the UFC turn its back once and for all on Jones. UFC boss Dana White has given Jones every opportunity to take his place among the UFC greats, but time and again Jones has messed up his chance.

Just one more chance is all Jones is asking for. Sounds like we've heard that before though.
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