Jeff Novitzky explains how “peaking” contributed to Jon Jones UFC 235 drug test results

Current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had a pair of drug tests come back positive for the M3 metabolite ahead of Saturday night’s title fight with Anthony Smith.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission cleared “Bones” to fight after the chief of the lab ruled that the M3 metabolites found in Jones system offered no performance-enhancing benefit, adding there was also no evidence of recent steroid use.

UFC vice president of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky spoke with reporters today in Las Vegas where he attempted to shed light on Jon Jones’ recent drug test results.

“Typically, a fighter is getting ready for a fight will gradually increase that intensity, peak, and then maybe a couple weeks out, taper off so they’re fresh for the fight,” Novitzky said (via MMAJunkie). “That was right in the heart of when Jon, what his camp has told me, was peaking in his training for this fight.”

Jon Jones has been tested on frequent occasion by five different organizations ahead of his UFC 235 title fight with Anthony Smith.

“All of us are of the opinion that while … it’s not great that every time Jon fights, an issue like this comes up, however, based on the amount of testing he’s had over the last two months, these low-level positives are the best evidence we’ve seen of what these experts are telling us.”

Novitzky continued:

“Based on the amount of testing he’s had over this last two months, these recent low-level positives are the best evidence I think we’ve seen of what these experts are telling us, and that is no readministration of this substance, and no performance-enhancing benefit. You have two very low-level picogram positives bookended by two negative tests within a week, week-and-a-half. If there was readministration of this substance, you would clearly see the parent compound, you would see short- and mid-term metabolites, which science has shown would be in existence for several weeks. So while unfortunate for Jon, I think based on the level of testing, it’s the best evidence I’ve seen.”

Jon Jones will attempt to defend his title when he takes on surging division contender Anthony Smith in Saturday night’s UFC 235 main event.

Jones was last seen in action at UFC 232 in Los Angeles, where he knocked out Alexander Gustafsson to reclaim his light heavyweight throne.