UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones hasn’t gotten rid of the steroid metabolite that upended his career.

Jones, 31, tested positive once for the long-term M3 metabolite of oral turinabol, according to drug tests administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. The results were released Wednesday by the California State Athletic Commission after a public records request from MMAjunkie.

Jones’ Dec. 28 test had 33 picograms of the M3 metabolite of oral turinabol; his Dec. 29 test came back negative. According to CSAC executive director Andy Foster, Jones had an undisclosed number of additional tests this month that have turned up negative.

The World Anti-Doping agency-approved laboratory that processed his samples certified they weren’t performance-enhancing, according to Foster, who made clear the CSAC has no plan to discipline Jones.

Jones’ latest drug test results appear to back the conclusion of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which determined the metabolite found prior to UFC 232 was a residual amount from the same one that resulted in a 15-month suspension.

Experts consulted by USADA and the UFC concluded the positive test – later revealed to be one of several positive and negative results since this past August – was the result of a “pulsing effect” of the metabolite, which theoretically could stay in Jones’ body indefinitely.

The latest samples come from Jones’ enrollment with VADA, which was ordered by the CSAC after a Dec. 9 drug test revealed trace amounts of the M3 metabolite. As MMAjunkie previously reported, Jones is subject to VADA testing for three to six months at a cost of $22,000 to the CSAC.

Jones, who’s also subject to out-of-competition testing by USADA, previously had tested positive on two occasions for similarly low levels while also passing five tests between August and November of 2018.

After the Dec. 9 test came back positive, Jones was immediately ordered to take a drug test and passed, prompting the CSAC to greenlight his title fight with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232.

Originally, the pay-per-view event was to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas under the supervision of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. But the NSAC wouldn’t administratively clear Jones to fight, and it couldn’t convene a hearing soon enough to address the issue. Because Jones already had received a temporary license to fight in California, the UFC chose to move the entire event to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) went on to stop Gustafsson in the third round, claiming the light heavyweight title relinquished by Daniel Cormier. Jones’ adverse test – first called “abnormal” by USADA – prompted a wave of criticism from observers, fans and fighters, including from Gustafsson and Jones’ rival Cormier.

Jones steadfastly has denied knowingly taking any performance-enhancing drugs and has vowed to rebuild his reputation with fans. Cormier (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) recently questioned whether fighting Jones will forever carry the possibility of facing an opponent with an illegal steroid metabolite in his system. Gustafsson’s rep has blasted the decision to clear Jones and questioned his test results.

Jones is expected to go before the NSAC this month to discuss his Dec. 9 test “to determine the appropriate path forward for him in Nevada,” the NSAC said.

The champ reveled in a negative test found two weeks after his fight at UFC 232. He is expected to defend his title against Anthony Smith (31-13 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC 235, which takes place March 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

For complete coverage of UFC 232, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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