UFC 232 moved from Vegas to LA due to Jones test issue
The fighter tested positive for a “very, very small amount” of metabolite, which the Nevada State Athletic Commission does not have time to investigate before Dec 29.
UFC 232 has been moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles due to licensing issues involving Jon Jones in the state of Nevada, the company’s president, Dana White, said on Sunday night.
The event – featuring a showdown between Jones and Alexander Gustafsson – is scheduled for 29 December at the The Forum in Inglewood, California.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency says remnants of a banned substance have remained on Jones’ body since a positive test on 29 July 2017 that led to a 15-month ban for the fighter.
A “very, very small amount”
The UFC says that he tested positive for a “very, very small amount” of metabolite, but that it is not considered a violation.
White clarified that the Nevada State Athletic Commission does not have time to investigate Jones’ sample before Saturday’s promotion.
He added that the commission in California “has already dealt with Jon Jones and have all the facts, they have everything”.
“Jones didn’t do anything wrong here. All the biggest experts, the smartest people in the world that deal with this are saying that he did not cheat, he didn’t do anything. So how do we not do this fight?”
Jones apologized to fans on his Instagram account, saying: “The situation is out of my control. I’ve been feeling the frustration of the fans, I’ll do what I can to make it right. This is not a mistake I made.”