REPORT: Jon Jones could return sooner than thought

Jon Jones was unceremoniously pulled from a milestone event in UFC 200 after USADA flagged him for a positive drug test. Just days before he was set to rematch Daniel Cormier to unify the light heavyweight belts, Jones was forced off the card and replaced with Anderson Silva, who stepped in following Jones’ failed drug test.

Recent revelations however suggest that Jones may not have been misleading when they blamed the failed tests on tainted supplements.

Reliable MMA insider Luke Thomas revealed some startling revelations that just may help vindicate the former light heavyweight champion and shorten if not abolish his suspension altogether.

Howard Jacobs also tells me, like Romero, USADA independently tested substances Jones took. Their tests confirm presence of banned…

— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 21, 2016

…substances, meaning the entire crop of them is contaminated.

— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 21, 2016

If that's the case, and USADA/NAC are acting rationally as well as within precedent, Jones should be competing soon.

— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 21, 2016

Jones initially failed an out-of competition USADA test on June 16, just weeks away from July 9, the night of UFC 200 in Las Vegas.

The former champ, who never technically lost his belt nor lost a fight, held a tearful press conference to address the scandal, and insisted upon his innocence.

If recent reports are true, Jones may be proven correct after all.

The common reasoning behind several recent high-profile USADA drug testing scandals, including Jones as well as surging middleweight contender Yoel Romero. Romero too claimed to be the victim of tainted supplements as Jones did prior to UFC 200.

Nevada defense lawyer Howard Jacobs, who represents several high-profile athletes who have tested positive, alleges that USADA independently tested the substance Jones was flagged for, similar to Yoel Romero’s situation.

According to Jacobs, the “entire crop would be deemed contaminated”, meaning Jones could be competing sooner than originally thought.

Jones former light heavyweight title will be decided between current champ and longtime “Bones” nemesis Daniel Cormier and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 206 in Toronto on December 10.

What do you think of these recent revelations over Jones’ USADA situation? Do you expect to see him in the octagon soon? Sound off, PENN Nation!