Jon Jones was handed the full ban in his doping case after an independent arbitration panel reviewed the evidence and came to a verdict on Monday.
Jones was given a one-year ban after failing a drugs test which had since been proven to be caused by a contaminated erectile dysfunction pill. The ban is retroactive so as evidence was submitted four months ago, Jones will be eligible to return to the octagon in July of 2017.
Jones took the pill on a recommendation from a teammate in order to improve his sexual performance, but as he neglected to question the legitimacy of the drug for anything other than it's ability to improve sexual performance, this was deemed as reckless by the independent arbitration panel.
Jones has since released a statement claiming that he was disappointed with the length of the ban, but was happy to be absolved of any suggestion of cheating in the sport.
Although I was hopeful for a better outcome in the USADA ruling today, I am very respectful of the process in which they allowed me to defend myself. I have always maintained my innocence and I am very happy I have been cleared in any wrong doing pursuant to the allegations made that I had intentionally taken a banned substance.
I am pleased that in USADA's investigation they determined I was "not a cheater of the sport". Being cleared of these allegations was very important to me. I have worked hard in and outside of the octagon to regain my image and my fighting career and will take these next eight months to continue my training and personal growth both as a man and an athlete.
Thank you to all of my fans, teammates, coaches, sponsors and to the UFC for their continued support.
Jones had been hinting at positive news coming soon for the past few weeks on his social media channels, so clearly he was hoping to return to action sooner than July 2017.
But the most important thing to him will no doubt be this line in the final report:
On the evidence before the Panel, the Applicant is not a drug cheat.
Now he just needs to focus on his decision making, as the reason he found himself in this mess in the first place was avoidable to say the least.
