The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) decided to sever their ties effective January 1, 2024.
The partnership was implemented almost a decade ago, resulting in many suspensions of fighters accused of taking banned substances.
One of those was Jon Jones, and with the partnership ending, the legendary mixed martial arts fighter can only celebrate.
"Man I survived USADA. First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal," he wrote on X.
"Guess what I'm still here, still unbeaten. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I've never cheated this sport and I will stand by that until the Day I die. ."
Man I survived USADA. First they said I was guilty of having picograms, then they considered me innocent, next picograms became legal. Guess what I’m still here, still unbeaten. That BS no contest over DC needs to be taken off my record. I’ve never cheated this sport and I will…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2023
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Jones failed USADA's policy on drug intake several times, the latest one at UFC 232. Inconsistencies were monitored in his drug tests, forcing him to sign with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association testing program while simultaneously trying to meet USADA requirements.
In March this year, Jones announced that USADA confirmed that his previous failed drug tests were no longer valid, but laments that his victories would not have been as controversial if only the organization had made the same ruling back then.
USADA-UFC rift growing bigger
The end of the partnership stems from how USADA mishandled the case of Conor McGregor, who, according to UFC, "conducted himself with integrity and honesty" but was still hounded with doping allegations.
The Irish fighter is back in the testing pool, which could affect his planned UFC comeback in December.
UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell and executive Jeff Novitzky announced that they will start working with Drug-Free Sport at the beginning of 2024, but their company will not let go of USADA that easily.
They want USADA to retract its statement and apologize to McGregor. They also seek legal action against the anti-doping agency.
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