Jon Jones shows support for Sean O’Malley

If there’s anyone who knows what Sean O’Malley has been going through as of late, it’s the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

Jones was one of the big stories throughout 2018 for his active schedule, but also for the traces of the long-term oral Turinabol metabolite remaining in his system. “Bones” was not suspended for the positive test that occurred at the end of 2018, but it is a question that will continue to be asked in regards to Jones for the foreseeable future.

Recently, O’Malley was removed from his scheduled bout with Marlon Vera at UFC 239 after traces of Ostarine were faint in his system — which happened to be the drug “Suga” announced he tested positive for in September 2018 leading to a six-month suspension.

At the UFC 239 media day in Los Angeles earlier this week, Jones, who will defend his title against Thiago Santos in the International Fight Week headliner July 6, was asked to give his opinion on O’Malley’s situation:

“It doesn’t make me feel good,” Jon Jones said of O’Malley going through similar circumstances in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I know how stressful it can be to be in his situation. I hope that he is a clean athlete and he is able to prove that. I think he’s great for the sport. He’s extremely entertaining. He’s different, and that’s what we need. I won’t be one of those athletes to revel or celebrate someone else’s sadness. I wish nothing but the best for him. I hope that he can figure it all out.”

Sean O’Malley will not be suspended further following the positive test that forced his removal of next week’s event. Currently, Vera does not have an opponent, but the UFC is actively looking for a short notice replacement, although nothing has been finalized at this time.

What would you like to see next for Sean O’Malley when he is ready to return?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/26/2019.