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LAS VEGAS -- Interim UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been pulled from his title unification bout against Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 on Saturday, after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informed Jones of a potential doping violation on Wednesday.
UFC president Dana White announced the move during an impromptu news conference at MGM Grand.
Jones tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition sample taken June 16 by USADA, said Jeff Novitzky, UFC's vice president of athlete health and performance. USADA administers the UFC's anti-drug policy.
is important to note that under the UFC anti-doping policy, there's a full, fair legal-review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed," Novitzky said.
Novitzky added that there wasn't time for a "full review before the scheduled bout."
"Therefore the fight has been removed from the fight card," Novitzky said.
White said he has not spoken to Jones yet and that he wasn't aware whether the substance in question was a performance-enhancing drug.
A heavyweight fight between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt will now headline UFC 200, which takes place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
Jon Jones has the right to appeal any positive test. He has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but did test positive for traces of cocaine prior to a fight against Daniel Cormier in January 2015. Rod Mar for ESPN
Jones has the right to appeal any positive test. He has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but did test positive for traces of cocaine before a fight against Cormier in January 2015.
Jones also served a suspension from April to October after his involvement in a hit-and-run accident.
Under the UFC's anti-doping program, which is administered by USADA and went into effect last July, a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug carries a standard two-year suspension.
White said he'd like to find Cormier, the defending light heavyweight champion, a new opponent, but that would be difficult because of the timing.
"When you have the biggest, baddest fight card ever assembled, you know, it doesn't sting as bad when you lose a fight," White said. "But it stings real bad for Daniel Cormier. This is devastating to him, his family, and I'd like for him to fight another guy."
Cormier appeared next to White during the news conference.
"I've trained hard and long," Cormier said. "If anybody would fight, I would fight. Why not? I understand the difficult task it would be to find me a fight on two days. I'm willing to fight up, put on some weight, 225, 220 (pounds). I'll fight. It doesn't matter. I just can't fight a really big guy, because I've been shrinking my body."
Cormier said he'd put in the effort and would accept a new fight if the UFC could find one that "made sense."
"I've worked really hard to prepare for this," Cormier said. "You take care of what you need to take care of, that's what I did. More than anything, it's really disappointing.
UFC president Dana White announced the move during an impromptu news conference at MGM Grand.
Jones tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition sample taken June 16 by USADA, said Jeff Novitzky, UFC's vice president of athlete health and performance. USADA administers the UFC's anti-drug policy.
is important to note that under the UFC anti-doping policy, there's a full, fair legal-review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed," Novitzky said.
Novitzky added that there wasn't time for a "full review before the scheduled bout."
"Therefore the fight has been removed from the fight card," Novitzky said.
White said he has not spoken to Jones yet and that he wasn't aware whether the substance in question was a performance-enhancing drug.
A heavyweight fight between Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt will now headline UFC 200, which takes place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
Jon Jones has the right to appeal any positive test. He has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but did test positive for traces of cocaine prior to a fight against Daniel Cormier in January 2015. Rod Mar for ESPN
Jones has the right to appeal any positive test. He has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but did test positive for traces of cocaine before a fight against Cormier in January 2015.
Jones also served a suspension from April to October after his involvement in a hit-and-run accident.
Under the UFC's anti-doping program, which is administered by USADA and went into effect last July, a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug carries a standard two-year suspension.
White said he'd like to find Cormier, the defending light heavyweight champion, a new opponent, but that would be difficult because of the timing.
"When you have the biggest, baddest fight card ever assembled, you know, it doesn't sting as bad when you lose a fight," White said. "But it stings real bad for Daniel Cormier. This is devastating to him, his family, and I'd like for him to fight another guy."
Cormier appeared next to White during the news conference.
"I've trained hard and long," Cormier said. "If anybody would fight, I would fight. Why not? I understand the difficult task it would be to find me a fight on two days. I'm willing to fight up, put on some weight, 225, 220 (pounds). I'll fight. It doesn't matter. I just can't fight a really big guy, because I've been shrinking my body."
Cormier said he'd put in the effort and would accept a new fight if the UFC could find one that "made sense."
"I've worked really hard to prepare for this," Cormier said. "You take care of what you need to take care of, that's what I did. More than anything, it's really disappointing.
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